"During this week I proposed amendments to strengthen EU action against human trafficking.  This worrying phenomenon which is getting out of hand in Malta and Europe requires urgent and effective action."

This was stated by MEP Comodini Cachia in the presence of local human rights NGO representatives during a meeting she hosted on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day.

These amendments mark her first task since she was approved as committee member of the European Parliamentary Foreign Affairs sub-committee on Human Rights this week.

The Maltese MEP criticised Europe for being ill-prepared in the area of human trafficking and victim protection, adding that closing frontiers will further suit the propose of criminals rather than discourage them.

In reply to a question posed by a European Network Anti Racism representative, Dr. Comodini Cachia remarked that she is involving herself actively in EU negotiations with third countries to address the issue of irregular migration at source.

During this meeting other matters were discussed, amongst them, Malta's shortcomming in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child; better implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability; doubts over effective protection of minors who arrive in Malta unaccompanied; the need to set up a National institution for the protection of fundamental human rights and discrimination in our society.