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 the Denmark from 2 to 6 December 2019 as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The focus of this evaluation round of the Convention is on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. Prior to the visit, the Danish authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA verified how the main recommendations made in its second evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met representatives of relevant ministries and other public agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, the Ministry of the Interior and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Employment, the Ministry of Taxation, the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking, the Department of Equal Opportunities, the Danish Immigration Service, the Working Environment Authority, the Danish Assets Recovery Office, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, and the Danish Tax Agency. Meetings were also held with representatives of the National Police, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and a district court judge. Further, GRETA’s delegation held a meeting with a Member of the Danish Parliament. Discussions were also held with representatives of the Danish Institute of Human Rights.
In addition, the GRETA delegation held meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, lawyers, victims of human trafficking and researchers. A meeting was also held with officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited a shelter for female victims of trafficking, run by the NGO Reden International, the Children’s Centre in Copenhagen, the asylum reception centre in Sandholm, run by the Danish Red Cross, and the immigration detention centre in Ellebæk.
The visit was carried out by the Mr Ola Laurell and Ms Julia Planitzer, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Mats Lindberg of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report which will be sent to the Danish authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report, to be published in 2020.
