In a report published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) considers that Latvia has strengthened its legislation but asks the authorities to improve the identification, protection and compensation of victims of trafficking.
From 2012 to 2016, 110 victims of trafficking were formally identified, the majority of whom were women involved in “sham marriages”, which led to their exploitation. The second most frequent form of exploitation was forced labour (25 cases), followed by sexual exploitation (20 cases). Eight children were also identified. All but one of the identified victims were Latvian nationals. Latvia remains primarily a country of origin for trafficked people.
As regards the legal framework, GRETA welcomes the introduction of a provision in the Criminal Law which makes it possible to release from criminal liability a person who commits a criminal offence while being trafficked. The use of prostitution services knowing that the person is a victim of trafficking has also been criminalised. In addition, the inclusion in the new asylum law of victims of trafficking as part of the people who are considered to have special reception needs is also a positive development.
The report recognises that considerable efforts have been made to train professionals, increase public funding to assist victims of trafficking and contribute to their social rehabilitation.