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Back GRETA carries out fourth evaluation visit to Denmark

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 Denmark from 7 to 11 of October 2024, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

This new evaluation round of monitoring the implementation of the Convention focuses on vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent them, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. An additional focus concerns the use of information and communication technology (ICT), which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.

Prior to the visit, the Danish authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examined how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report on Denmark have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met officials from the Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality (including the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking and the Department of Gender Equality), the Ministry of Employment (including the Working Environment Authority and the Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment), the Ministry of Taxation (including the Tax Agency), the Ministry of Immigration and Integration (including the Immigration Service, the Agency for International Recruitment and Reintegration, and the Return Agency), and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing. Meetings were also held with several agencies under the Ministry of Justice: the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the Danish National Police (including the Specialised Crime Unit, the Assets Recovery Office, the National Cybercrime Centre, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Police Academy). The delegation also met a judge from the Western High Court.

Furthermore, GRETA’s delegation held consultations with the Danish Institute for Human Rights. It also met Members of Parliament, including the spokespersons on Legal Affairs and on Immigration and Integration.

In addition, GRETA’s delegation held meetings in Esbjerg and Fredericia with members of the South Jutland Police, a prosecutor coordinating human trafficking cases, and a judge from the Eastern High Court. Discussions were also held with representatives of the social services of Copenhagen municipality.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with several non-governmental organisations.

In the course of the evaluation, the GRETA delegation visited an NGO-run shelter for female victims of human trafficking in Copenhagen, a shelter for homeless people operated by the Salvation Army in Hørhuset, as well as a health clinic providing psychological support and health care to victims of trafficking in Fredericia. The visit also provided an opportunity to visit the Immigration Detention Centre in Ellebaek and the Asylum Reception Centre and Centre for minors in Sandholm.

The visit was carried out by Ms Svala Ísfeld Ólafsdóttir and Ms Conny Rijken, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Teresa Armengol de la Hoz of the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the national authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be made public.