§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to prevent people trafficking in(a) West Africa and (b) central and eastern Europe. [66183]
§ Clare ShortCombating people trafficking is part of a wider set of issues related to the vulnerability of poor people to the interests of national and international traffickers. It is an international problem requiring co-ordinated action. DFID's goal is to eliminate the poverty and social injustice that creates the conditions where such abuse can flourish. With other Government Departments, we are supporting the efforts of Governments and international agencies to strengthen social protection policies and justice systems in line with the international treaty framework covering these issues.
We are also supporting efforts such as Anti-slavery International's work with civil society in West Africa to stop the trafficking of children for domestic work, and the International Organisation for Migration's programme of training for agencies helping trafficked women in the Balkans.