Europe has seen "an explosion" of trafficking in people since the break-up of the former Societ Union, according to the latest report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The report, entitled Stopping Forced Labour, identifies prostitution as the main form of forced labour in Europe, whereas domestic, industrial and farm labour are the sectors where it predominates in developing countries.
The report also expresses concern about the use of prison labour for both private-sector use and state services. While the use of prisoners to make profits for private enterprise is increasing and their use as a form of cheap labour by the state is decreasing, both forms of forced labour pose serious problems, according to the ILO report.
Burma and the United States are both criticised for their policies in these areas. The ILO criticises many states for refusing to enforce sanctions against Burma for its flagrant human rights abuses and argues that the facilitation of prison labour for private profit in countries such as the US helps to muddy the debate.
The ILO calls for greater co-operation between governments and international agencies to stop the traffic in people. It welcomes the development of the Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings, set up by the Centre for International Crime Prevention and the UN Inter-regional Crime and Justice Research Institute.
It says some successes have already been registered by international action programmes, such as the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, particularly in the Mekong Delta region. It says a programme developed there shows the involvement of local women, "through education, training . . . and other empowerment tools, is crucial to any effective strategy to combat trafficking in children."
Combined with "microfinance and microcredit arrangements" such programmes can "break the cycle of poverty and bondage". The ILO report says the monitoring of public works projects to ensure forced labour is not used in them has become a major weapon in tackling the problem. International financial institutions were also beginning to consult the ILO about labour conditions on projects they were asked to sponsor. The Global Compact business partnership agreement brokered by the ILO allows unions to raise forced-labour problems with employers, while the latter are providing training for companies in developing countries to modernise.