Human trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are forced into slavery and the third largest source of illegal income after drugs and arms. It is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year, with approximately 80 percent of them being women and girls and up to 50 percent minor.

Liberal Democrats across Europe have recently created an Anti-Trafficking Liberal Network, to join forces in campaigns, exchange data and best practices.

On 13 October 2006, the European Liberal Democrats adopted a resolution calling for the launch of awareness campaigns and free telephone help lines targeted at potential victims, warning of the dangers of trafficking, with advice on their rights and obligations and where to get help in EU member states and neighbouring countries as well as the establishment of safe havens, which will treat trafficked people as victims, providing medical care, counseling and legal aid, in particular the possibility of helping to prosecute traffickers.

This resolution also proposed that employers and trade unions work together in supporting the victims of trafficking, with multi-agency monitoring of vulnerable employment sectors and that police forces in EU member states and neighbouring countries in cooperation with Europol work together to mount intelligence-led operations to liberate victims of trafficking and to arrest the criminals responsible.