Anti-trafficking plan in Estonia

Estonia has approved a major anti-trafficking action plan to be in operation between 2006 and 2009. Estonia’s Minister of Justice Rein Lang commented at the launch of the national strategy that he feared that human trafficking might become the worst social problem facing Estonia. He particularly feared what would happen in 2007 if Estonia joined the Schengen agreement by which people are only checked at the border of the Schengen area and then can travel freely across all nations who are part of the agreement. Estonia is planning to strengthen border checks and treat human traffickers severely. It is to be hoped, however, that they will also concentrate on upholding the human rights of the victims of human trafficking.