Recent European Union policy discussions have again highlighted the urgent need for consistent recording and analysis of data relating to trafficking in human beings. Without such a framework, the EU's ability to assess the scale and nature of the problem and, consequently, to formulate effective policy responses is severely impaired. MONTRASEC - a model for monitoring trafficking in human beings, as well as sexually exploited and missing children - demonstrates that real progress can be made in addressing these long standing difficulties. Building on the work undertaken in the previous SIAMSECT (Statistical Information and Analysis on Missing and Sexually Exploited Children and Trafficking) research, a practical IT tool has been developed by which the three phenomena can be described, interpreted, and analyzed in an integrated and multidisciplinary fashion. The IT tool also provides National Rapporteurs or similar mechanisms with enhanced and uniform reporting capacity. Recognizing th