The “unbroken marriage” – trafficking and child labour in Europe

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the correlation between trafficking in children and child labour in Europe. The paper focuses on the scope of these issues and specific feature of child trafficking as the cause of the worst forms of child labour. Child labour and trafficking constitutes not only violations of children's rights, but also acts of transnational organised crime through which criminal groups acquire considerable amounts of money. The paper also identifies the shortcomings of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and European Union (EU) regulations.Design/methodology/approachBased on available statistical data, the paper seeks to identify the worst forms of child labour, in particular, the sexual exploitation of children as a consequence of child trafficking, and define the implications of child trafficking for the European Common Market.FindingsThe trafficking of children expressis verbis should be identified as a cause of the worst forms of child labour, in particular of sexual exploitation of children. Coherent activity of EU member state authorities, cooperation in the field of internal affairs and criminal matters, and development of effective supranational criminal law framework must become a priority of a society oriented towards the highest standards of protection of children's rights as a separate human rights category. The paper critically comments on the problems of relevant definitions contained in the ILO Convention No. 182.Originality/valueThe EU went the furthest with its activities; its supranational character proved to be much more effective in developing but also using the existing international instruments as compared to slow and passive child protection mechanisms within other international entities, ILO in particular.