Irish MEP calls for trafficked women to be treated as victims not criminals.

Irish MEP Simon Coveney, who is also the host for Business Travellers against Human Trafficking in the European Parliament, has told a sub-committee of the EU Parliament that  women who have been trafficked should be treated as victims, not as criminals as long as they co-operate with the police. He called for EU states to grant victims temporary residence visas as they are often worried about reprisals if they return home.
Simon Coveney MEP also attacked the Irish government’s attitude towards human trafficking, as they have not ratified international agreements or passed legislation which defines human trafficking.