Some 38 representatives of Azerbaijani government agencies, public bodies and civil society met in Baku on 24 April 2025 to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, on the basis of the third evaluation report issued by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation focused on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the  Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan. The meeting was opened by Mr Hazi Aslanov, Head of the Main Department for Combating Human Trafficking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who stressed the country’s commitment to strengthening the implementation of the Convention.

The discussion focused on efforts to improve the identification of victims of trafficking and their access to legal aid and compensation. Participants also discussed the criminal justice response to human trafficking, strategies to prevent and combat trafficking for labour exploitation and child trafficking, and the importance of co‑operation with civil society.

Azerbaijan is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 16 June 2025.

 See also: GRETA and Azerbaijan