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A delegation from the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) conducted an evaluation visit to France from 16 to 25 June 2025 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. This includes a focus on 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 French authorities provided a response 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 France have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held meetings with Ms Aurore Bergé, Minister for Gender Equality, and Ms Roxana Maracineanu, Secretary General of the Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women against Violence and the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings (MIPROF), as well as with representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour, Health, Solidarity and Families, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Overseas Territories, Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research, the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII), the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), the National Court of Asylum (CNDA), and the Interministerial Delegation for Housing and Access to Housing (DIHAL).

The delegation also met with representatives of the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH), which acts as the National Rapporteur on trafficking, with Ms Claire Hédon, the Defender of Rights (Ombudsperson), representatives of the Controller-General for Places of Deprivation of Liberty (CGLPL), and Mr Guillaume Gouffier-Valente, Member of Parliament.

In addition, the delegation travelled to Tarbes, Calais, Fort-de-France (Martinique), and Cayenne (French Guiana), where it met with officials from relevant Prefectures and local authorities, law enforcement agencies, labour inspectors, and members of the judiciary.

Separate meetings were held with representatives of non-governmental organisations, as well as with lawyers and victims of human trafficking.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation visited a specialised shelter for child victims of trafficking run by an association in the Hautes-Pyrénées, an emergency apartment for women victims of sexual exploitation run by the Mouvement du Nid association, and an emergency shelter for asylum seekers run by the Red Cross in Martinique. The delegation also visited the detention centre for foreigners in Matoury (French Guiana), and a day centre for migrants in Calais managed by NGOs. In Cayenne, the delegation visited an informal settlement where many migrants live.

The visit was carried out by Ms Ulrike Haberl-Schwarz and Mr Peter Van Hauwermeiren, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Mesut Bedirhanoglu and Ms Parvine Ghadami from the Convention Secretariat.

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