A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Portugal from 4 to 8 April 2016. The visit provided an opportunity to assess progress in the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings since the first evaluation visit by GRETA in 2012 (GRETA report on Portugal).
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Ms Catarina Marcelino, Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality. Discussions were also held with Mr Manuel Albano, National Rapporteur for Trafficking in Human Beings, and officials from relevant ministries as well as representatives of other public bodies, including the Superior Council of Magistracy, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Observatory of Trafficking in Human Beings, the Labour Conditions Authority, the National Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People at Risk, and the High Commission for Migration.
Further, the GRETA delegation met with members of the Portuguese Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Safeguards, chaired by Mr Bacelar de Vasconcelos.
In addition, the delegation travelled to Coimbra where it met the specialised multidisciplinary regional team for assistance to victims of trafficking in the Centre of Portugal and representatives of a network of public bodies and civil society organisations supporting the team’s work.
Separate meetings were held with representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lawyers, researchers, employer federations, trade unions, and officials from the local offices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited two shelters for victims of trafficking operated by NGOs, one for male victims, and the other one for women and their children, as well as the reception centre for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children run by the NGO Portuguese Refugee Council in Lisbon.
The visit was carried out by Mr Nicolas Le Coz, President of GRETA, and Ms Vessela Banova, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Markus Lehner of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report which will be sent to the Portuguese authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be made public.
