30 November 2022, Bari, Italy – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean participated in the Workshop on “Women Refugees and Human Trafficking in North Africa: Impact and Implications for Security”, organized by NATO Strategic Direction South Hub and the Bari University Aldo Moro. The workshop took place in a hybrid modality at Bari University. On this occasion, PAM was represented by PAM’s President Emeritus Hon. Gennaro Migliore.
The Workshop brought together experts, academics, and practitioners from North Africa to discuss how human trafficking impacts security. The debate also focused on the poor conditions in which women refugees find themselves, and the policies developed by North African countries to tackle this issue.
During his opening speech, Hon. Migliore stated that women migrants are the most vulnerable target to human trafficking, which is not only a transnational crime but also a “violation of fundamental human rights and dignity”. The Mediterranean region is among the global areas most affected by global warming and, consequently, by this issue.
Parliamentarians have a crucial role in ensuring protection for victims of trafficking and preventing the phenomenon. In this regard, Hon. Migliore mentioned PAM’s contribution to strengthening the collaboration between States by adopting Naples Declaration, collaborating with the OSCE, and mobilizing its MPs and networks to assist and protect Ukrainian women refugees from trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Later on, in a second speech, Hon. Migliore recalled the vulnerable situation in North African and Middle East countries in terms of criminal networks and human trafficking, due to protracted conflicts, economic crises, and climate-induced migration. PAM is directly committed to this issue given that “each PAM country is either a country of origin, transit, or destination” of migration flows.
Subsequently, Hon. Migliore mentioned PAM’s activities to face the issue, highlighting that the Assembly supports the design and implementation of strategies aimed at tackling the socio–economic causes that make populations more vulnerable to organized crime. Moreover, PAM ensures that the gender perspective is considered in crime prevention and criminal justice programs.
He recalled that PAM adopted a declaration earlier on this year, in Naples, to find avenues to contribute to the review of the Palermo Convention on Transnational Organised Crime twenty two years after its adoption.
In conclusion, Hon. Migliore reiterated PAM’s willingness to continue to cooperate with the international community to support all the efforts in the fight against organized crime.//