Some 44 members of the Council of Europe Network of specialised lawyers and NGOs providing legal assistance to victims of human trafficking met in Strasbourg on 3-4 November 2025.
Participants discussed the application of Article 14 (residence permits) of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, issues around the misclassification of cases of trafficking in human beings, the use of open-source investigations to support legal practice, and ways to step up the private sector’s role in preventing and combating trafficking. Other topics discussed included human trafficking and the principle of non-refoulement, the lawyers’ role in identification, seizure and confiscation of assets, and the protection of victims’ personal data and privacy. Recent case-law on human trafficking, illustrating challenges with the implementation of the non-punishment provision, was discussed. The meeting included a presentation of the Training-of-Trainers programme by the Council of Europe HELP Programme.
The Network currently comprises over 110 members from States Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. It serves as a platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge on key aspects of the support provided to victims of human trafficking.
