The Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, issued a press statement following a high-level conference hosted in Malta as part of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe. Experts from Council of Europe member states, together with government representatives and voluntary organisations working in the field of human trafficking explored how new technological tools can assist in strengthening coordination at a national and international level, to fight trafficking in human beings, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.
In the opening statement, the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms stated that the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fight against human trafficking must be in line with the full respect for human rights and the dignity of the victims. She warned that human traffickers also make use of innovative technologies, and this challenge must be met with determination from governments and authorities with a coordinated strategy. She further stated that Malta is actively implementing digital transformation in all sectors, including in the fight against human trafficking.