On the occasion of the 3rd World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) emphasises the urgent need to continue combating human trafficking with more resolve than ever, bearing in mind that the current refugee and migrant crisis may fuel trafficking and intolerable forms of exploitation of vulnerable people.
GRETA recalls the importance of fully respecting the 2005 Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings whose provisions guarantee the protection of victims, strengthen the prevention of trafficking, promote the prosecution of traffickers and encourage the development of partnerships at national and international level.
The Convention’s scope of application now covers 46 countries with a total population of some 680 million, allowing for common standards to be applied throughout states parties and hence contributing to a more efficient fight against this scourge.
Nicolas Le Coz, President of GRETA, said: “States should not see the implementation of the Convention and the protection of the rights of victims as an additional burden but rather as key factor for the efficiency of their response in tackling this crime”.
GRETA stresses that anti-trafficking action requests a clear political commitment to sustain and strengthen the efforts to combat human trafficking, whilst applying the human rights-based approach of the Convention. States must not slacken their efforts and must devote adequate resources to stamp out this abhorrent crime and protect victims of trafficking.
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A multidisciplinary group of 15 independent experts set up under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, GRETA is mandated to monitor the respect of this treaty by the 46 states which have so far ratified it. As of 30 July 2016, GRETA has published 40 country reports as part of the 1st evaluation round of the Convention and nine country reports as part of the 2nd evaluation round.
