Strasbourg,
7 February 2012 - The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against
Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published today its first evaluation
report on Georgia.
In the report, GRETA notes the progress made by the Georgian authorities in
combating trafficking in human beings, including through the adoption of a
specific anti-trafficking law, the setting up of the Interagency Co-ordination
Council against trafficking in human beings and a State Fund for the protection
and assistance of victims of trafficking, as well as increasing the budgetary
allocation for victim support.
GRETA welcomes the efforts of the Georgian authorities to strengthen prevention
through awareness raising, education and training. That said, GRETA stresses the
importance of stepping up action to address the socio-economic vulnerability to
trafficking of internally-displaced persons, potential migrants and children.
Further, GRETA considers that the Georgian authorities should step up their
efforts to improve the proactive detection and identification of victims of
trafficking. In this context, increased attention should be paid to the
trafficking of foreign nationals to or through Georgia, as well as to
trafficking taking place within Georgia.
The Georgian authorities have put in place programmes to provide assistance to
victims of trafficking. That said, in practice, very few victims have benefitted
from individual rehabilitation and reintegration plans and only a small number
of victims have received compensation. GRETA is also concerned by the
significant reduction in the number of prosecutions and convictions of
traffickers since 2010.
Prior to drawing up its evaluation report, GRETA held consultations with the
relevant authorities and non-governmental and international organisations active
in the field of combating trafficking in human beings in Georgia. A confidential
first draft of the report was sent to the Georgian authorities and their
comments were taken into account in the final evaluation report adopted by
GRETA. This report is published together with the final comments of the Georgian
authorities, as provided for by the Council of Europe Convention on Action
against Trafficking in Human Beings.
On the basis of GRETA’s report, the Committee of the Parties to the Convention
will consider adopting recommendations addressed to the Government of Georgia.
A
political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote
democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to
social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states.
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A
political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote
democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to
social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states.