Campaign to combat business travel prostitution

A campaign to raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking and prostitution in the business travel community, is to be launched today.

The campaign - which will be run by e-business support group Oasis and anti-child prostitution group ECPAT - aims to provide European business people with a forum to report evidence of human trafficking or child prostitution that they witness.

Fine Gael MEP Simon Coveney will host the launch at the European Parliament in Strasbourg tonight.

Speaking prior to the launch, Mr Coveney said: "Across the globe, thousands of women and children are trafficked into the sex trade against their will for business travellers to use as prostitutes."

He said: "The Business Travellers against Human Trafficking campaign is an example of a practical initiative where MEPs can be proactively instrumental in the fight against human trafficking."

"By demonstrating their commitment to being non-complicit in this activity, and by reporting instances of trafficking, MEPs and other business travellers can contribute to tackling this current growing problem."

Mr Coveney said: "Given the recent Commission communication on fighting trafficking and the fact that halting people trafficking is one of the priorities of the UK presidency, it is an appropriate time to launch such a project."