Luxembourg’s Commitment to Eradicating Modern Slavery

In its latest report on human trafficking, the Commission Consultative Droits de l’Homme has highlighted Luxembourg’s efforts to combat this serious issue. While progress has been made, more needs to be done to address the root causes of modern slavery and protect vulnerable populations.

Human Trafficking in Luxembourg

According to the report, human trafficking is a significant problem in Luxembourg, with many victims being exploited for forced labor or sex work. The government has implemented various measures to prevent trafficking, including increasing funding for anti-trafficking initiatives and strengthening laws to prosecute traffickers.

Gaps in Luxembourg’s Approach

However, the report also notes that there are still significant gaps in Luxembourg’s approach to combating human trafficking. For example:

• Tax Policies: The country’s tax policies have been criticized for creating an environment that encourages money laundering and other financial crimes, which can facilitate trafficking.
• Lack of Transparency: Luxembourg’s lack of transparency and fair taxation practices has been highlighted by Oxfam research, which found that if the EU were to apply its own tax haven criteria to its member states, Luxembourg would be one of the countries listed.

Policy Coherence

The report highlights the need for greater policy coherence between Luxembourg’s national and European policies to ensure that they are aligned with the country’s commitment to eradicating modern slavery. This includes:

• Financial Policies: Ensuring that financial policies do not inadvertently facilitate trafficking.
• Company Accountability: Holding companies operating in Luxembourg accountable for any human rights violations.

Progress Made

In recent years, Luxembourg has taken some positive steps towards addressing these issues. For example:

• National Action Plan: The government has developed a national action plan against human trafficking.
• UN Declaration Ratification: Luxembourg has ratified the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Recommendations

To further address the root causes of modern slavery and protect vulnerable populations, we recommend that the government:

• Develops and implements policies that prevent human trafficking and protect victims.
• Prioritizes transparency and fair taxation practices, including reviewing its fiduciary practices based on equality and global impact.
• Holds companies operating in Luxembourg accountable for any human rights violations and takes steps to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes.

Sources

• Commission Consultative Droits de l’Homme (2019). Report on Human Trafficking
• Oxfam (2019). Off the Hook: EU Tax Havens
• Cercle de Coopération (2017). Fair Politics: A Third Assessment of Policy Coherence for Development in Luxembourg