The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS N° 197) was adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 3 May 2005 and opened for signature in Warsaw on 16 May 2005, on the occasion of the 3rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe.

The Convention is a comprehensive treaty mainly focussed on the protection of victims of trafficking and the safeguard of their rights. It also aims at preventing trafficking as well as prosecuting traffickers.

The Convention applies to all forms of trafficking; whether national or transnational, whether or not related to organised crime. It applies whoever the victim: women, men or children and whatever the form of exploitation: sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, etc.

The Convention provides for the setting up of an independent monitoring mechanism guaranteeing parties’ compliance with its provisions.

The text of the Convention and its Explanatory Report are available here.

Translations of the Convention and its explanatory report: Azeri, Georgian, Serbian

Translations of the Convention: Armenian, Dutch, German, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish.

For information on the latest signatures and ratifications, please consult the Council of Europe Treaty Office's website http://conventions.coe.int