MEP and QC Jim Allister today spoke of his part in defending Human Rights in the EU Parliament – and combating human trafficking and prostitution.

He said:  “I have been at the forefront in the EU in its campaign to prevent Human Right abuses. Recently I hosted a Europe-wide conference to help prevent the human trafficking of women across Europe.

“As an international Parliament, worldwide issues are often discussed in Strasbourg.

“I have persistently raised human rights abuses and particularly persecution of Christians, in countries as diverse as the Congo, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and many more. In the next Parliament I am committed to continuing the pursuit of this special interest.

“Increasingly the EU has been trying to foist its social and rights agendas on every region, often at the expense of traditional family values. I have been emphatic in the defence of such standards and in resisting their erosion, and I am the only Northern Ireland MEP to have spoken up on these issues in debates.”