Letter from Anna Karamanu to the Minister of Public Order regarding the fight against human trafficking

Honorable Mr. Minister,

Along with my warmest wishes for success in your difficult work, I would like to bring the following issues to your attention and request your immediate intervention:

1. Recently, the case of a young Ukrainian woman came to public attention, in which she reported being a victim of rape and human trafficking. However, she saw the accused (one of whom is a chief guard at the Amaliada Police Department) acquitted, as she was never called to testify at the trial. Regarding this serious incident, which undermines public trust both in the Justice system and in the Greek Police, I sent a letter to the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Mr. Evangelos Kroustallakis, which I am attaching here. In this letter, I request his intervention so that justice can be served, and a trial can be conducted that does not offend the public sense of justice, nor common sense.

2. It is a fact that the issue of human trafficking, particularly the sexual exploitation of women and children, has taken on explosive dimensions in recent years in our country. Regarding this issue, I have submitted my views and proposals to your predecessor, Mr. Michalis Chrysochoidis, as well as a request for the immediate issuance of presidential decrees that would implement Law 3064/2002.

Among other things, I have submitted a comprehensive proposal for the establishment of a European Center for the Prevention, Combating of Trafficking, and Provision of Assistance to Victims (attached). Following the publication of the U.S. Department of State’s report, which ranks Greece in the worst category regarding its handling of trafficking, I believe that this proposal is particularly timely. Its implementation could serve as a concrete demonstration of Greece’s commitment to combating such criminal practices.

With deep respect

Anna Karamanou