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 Spain from 8 to 12 June 2026, 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 Spanish 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 Spain have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held meetings with Ms María del Puy Zatón Osés, National Rapporteur for Trafficking in Human Beings (as part of the State Secretary for Security), as well as officials from the Ministry of the Interior (including Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil and the Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime, CITCO), the Ministry of Equality, the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy (including the Social Security Inspection), the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, the Ministry of Youth and Children, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament, the National Prosecutor’s Office and the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE). Meetings were also held with the General Council for the Judiciary and judges from the Supreme Court and the National Court. Further, consultations took place with members of the Office of the Spanish Ombudsperson.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, the General Council of Spanish Lawyers, the Madrid Bar Association and lawyers representing victims of trafficking and persons with lived experience of human trafficking. The GRETA delegation also met officials of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation travelled to the autonomous communities of Catalonia and the Canary Islands, where it held meetings with relevant officials and civil society representatives. In Barcelona, the visit involved meetings with staff responsible for the identification of presumed victims of trafficking among persons seeking asylum at El Prat Airport, staff of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science and psychiatrists from the transcultural psychiatry department of Vall d'Hebron Hospital.

In the course of the visit, the delegation visited a shelter for women victims of sexual exploitation and a shelter for girls victims of trafficking in Madrid, a day centre for women victims of human trafficking in Barcelona, as well as a shelter for women victims of trafficking and their children and a mobile outreach unit in Tenerife. Further, the delegation visited the Hoya Fría Immigration Removal Centre and the Temporary Assistance Centre for Migrants in Tenerife.

The visit was carried out by Ms Dorothea Czarnecki and Mr David Mancini, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Teresa Armengol de la Hoz and Ms Parvine Ghadami 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 in the course of 2027.

 GRETA and Spain

Some 40 representatives of Lithuanian government agencies, public bodies and civil society met on 12 June 2026 in Vilnius to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against trafficking in Human Beings, drawing on 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsperson of Lithuania. The meeting was opened by the Parliamentary Ombudsperson, Dr Jolita Miliuvienė, who highlighted the designation of the Office of the Ombudsperson as independent National Rapporteur on human trafficking. Further, Mr Mantas Svečiulis, Advisor to the Minister of the Interior, noted the evolving context in which anti-trafficking measures are being implemented and referred to the preparation of a new anti-trafficking National Action Plan for 2027-2029. Ms Petya Nestorova, Head of the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe, stressed the readiness of the Council of Europe to assist Lithuania in its efforts to combat trafficking in human beings.

The discussions focused on improving trafficking victims’ access to legal aid and compensation, measures to prevent and combat human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, strengthening the identification of victims of trafficking, including at the border, the provision of assistance and protection to victims, and the co-ordination of anti-trafficking action at national and local level.

Lithuania is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 21 June 2026.

 GRETA and Lithuania

Trafficking in human beings for criminal exploitation is on the rise in Europe. It requires urgent action from governments to protect the victims from criminal groups that exploit their vulnerabilities and prevent their criminalisation, concludes the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) in its latest annual report.

The report reviews progress in the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by its states parties and examines challenges and emerging trends.

Human trafficking for exploitation in criminal activities, in which victims are compelled to commit crimes, is often linked to other forms of organised crime such as drug trafficking, property crimes, migrant smuggling, money laundering, document fraud and online scams.

In its report, GRETA underlines the vulnerability factors that traffickers exploit to compel victims to carry out criminal activities, including poverty, homelessness, unemployment, precarious migration status, disabilities and addictions. Children and young people are exposed to numerous risk factors, especially unaccompanied or separated minors, children in residential care and from disadvantaged minorities.

Forced criminality has emerged as the main form of exploitation of child victims of trafficking in the United Kingdom, affecting predominantly UK children. In Croatia, criminal exploitation accounted for nearly a third of the identified victims in the period 2020-2024. In Albania, the Republic of Moldova, Denmark and the Netherlands, trafficking for criminal exploitation accounted for between 7% and 15% of victims. While noting that this type of trafficking is increasing in many states parties, GRETA notes that it is underrepresented – or even missing – in the data collected in some countries.

“The recruitment of victims is often initiated online, via job announcements, service advertisements, gaming sites and social media. Victims are compelled or forced to perform activities that constitute crimes or other unlawful activities. Failure to identify them as victims of human trafficking results in their being arrested, prosecuted, imprisoned and/or deported”, said Conny Rijken, President of GRETA.

Trafficking for exploitation in criminal activities is directly related to the application of the non-punishment provision of the Council of Europe anti-trafficking convention, which requires states parties to provide for the possibility of not imposing penalties on victims of trafficking in human beings for their involvement in unlawful activities, to the extent that they have been compelled to do so.

“Of the 47 countries that have been evaluated by GRETA, 22 have adopted specific legal provisions concerning the non-punishment of victims of trafficking. The number of such countries has increased following recommendations made by GRETA. Nevertheless, progress remains incomplete, and we call on states parties to continue strengthening their legal frameworks and practices,” underlined GRETA’s President.

In 2025, GRETA published 13 country evaluation reports concerning Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, the Slovak Republic and Ukraine.

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The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

In a new report evaluating the progress made by Armenia since 2022 in countering trafficking in human beings, the Council of Europe expert body GRETA welcomes steps taken to improve victim identification and assistance. The report highlights, however, that the authorities should intensify efforts to prevent trafficking for labour exploitation, to ensure proactive investigations, as well as to provide legal assistance and compensation to victims.

A total of 90 persons were identified as victims of trafficking in 2022-25, including 22 children. There has been an increase in the number of identified victims and investigations into human trafficking offences as a result of reinforced training and new tools. Labour exploitation has become the predominant form of exploitation amongst identified victims There has been an increase in the number of foreign victims, including migrant workers.

Positive legislative changes observed in the reporting period included new provisions on trafficking in human beings in the new Criminal Code, a definition of “compulsory or forced labour” introduced in the revised Labour Code and the long-awaited legislative package on children rights protection. GRETA also welcomes measures taken to improve victim identification and the adoption of minimum standards for the provision of services to victims of human trafficking.

The report has a particular focus on the prevention of vulnerability to trafficking in human beings and the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

In Armenia, the most common vulnerability factors exploited by traffickers are poverty, poor housing conditions, unemployment, lack of education and isolation. Girls and women of the Yezidi minority are particularly vulnerable to child, early and forced marriage. Further, children and young people leaving alternative care, as well as persons with disabilities and/or mental disorders, are vulnerable to trafficking for different forms of exploitation. In recent years, the number of migrant workers in Armenia has significantly increased. Abusive practices by recruitment agencies and limited oversight of companies make migrant workers particularly vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation by their employers or recruiters.

The report stresses the need to increase the funding and human resources of the bodies responsible for the protection of children, so as to enable them to play an effective role in the prevention of child trafficking. Increased awareness-raising of trafficking risks among groups at risk and measures facilitating their inclusion, as well as training for professionals in contact with them, can strengthen prevention efforts.

GRETA calls on the Armenian authorities to increase the resources of the Health and Labour Inspection Body to enable it to conduct proactive and unannounced inspections in all workplaces. The authorities should also more effectively regulate and monitor recruitment and temporary work agencies and provide safe and anonymous reporting and complaint mechanisms for migrant workers.

GRETA welcomes the efforts made in Armenia to strengthen online safety and improve investigations of ICT-facilitated cases of human trafficking. The authorities should invest in capacity building and digital tools for proactive investigations of ICT-facilitated trafficking and develop co-operation with ICT companies and Internet service providers.

The report highlights some of GRETA’s previous recommendations that remain unimplemented or only partially implemented. In particular, victims’ access to compensation remains ineffective, with no victim compensated during the reporting period. Collection of evidence about the harm suffered (including moral damage and lost earnings) should be part of the criminal proceedings and a mechanism to guarantee the compensation of victims by the State should be introduced. GRETA also urges the authorities to ensure that legal assistance is provided as soon as there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person is a victim of human trafficking.

The report underlines that despite an increased number of investigations, there have been few convictions for human trafficking. GRETA calls on the Armenian authorities to ensure that human trafficking offences are investigated proactively and promptly, making full use of special investigation techniques. It also stresses that human trafficking offences should be prosecuted as such rather than as lesser offences and that such prosecutions should lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.

GRETA and Armenia

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 Sweden on 1-5 June 2026 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 Swedish 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 Sweden have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Ms Katarina Lundahl, State Secretary for Gender Equality, Ms Annika Thunborg, Acting Envoy for Combating Human Trafficking and Exploitation, Ms Janna Davidsson, National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, and officials from the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecution Authority, the Police Authority, the National Board of Institutional Care, the Work Environment Agency, the Migration Agency, the National Council for Crime Prevention, the County Administrative Board of Stockholm, and the Social Services. Furthermore, the delegation met Ms Juno Blom, the Ombudsman for Children.

In addition to holding meetings in Stockholm, GRETA’s delegation travelled to Malmö where it met representatives of the municipal social services, the border police dealing with human trafficking cases and the regional co-ordinators against prostitution and human trafficking.

Separate meetings were held with members of non-governmental organisations, lawyers representing victims of trafficking and persons with lived experience of human trafficking.

During the visit, GRETA visited a shelter for victims of human trafficking and a counselling centre for persons who have been trafficked for sexual purposes, both located in Stockholm, as well as a special residential home for young people in Södertälje.

The visit was carried out by Ms Antoaneta Vassileva, First Vice-President of GRETA, and Ms Svala Olafsdottir, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Mesut Bedirhanoglu of the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Swedish authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published in 2027.

The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is publishing its fourth evaluation report on Norway with a focus on vulnerabilities to human trafficking. An additional focus concerns the use of information and communication technology to commit human trafficking offences.

This report, covering the period 2022 - March 2026, also assesses developments since the publication of GRETA’s third evaluation report as regards the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in Norway.

The Norwegian authorities have continued to develop the legislative, institutional and policy framework for combating trafficking in human beings, including the introduction of the new criminal offences of wage theft as well as amendments to the Working Environment Act and the Child Welfare Act. GRETA also welcomes the adoption of the new National Strategy against Human Trafficking for the period 2025-2030.

However, Norway still lacks a formal and systematic mechanism for data collection on identified victims of trafficking. According to estimates by the National Co-ordinating Unit against Human Trafficking (KOM), around 100 new adult victims were identified annually between 2022 and 2024. Most of them were subjected to sexual exploitation, followed by forced labour or services. Victims mainly originated from Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. The number of identified Norwegian victims has increased, including children subjected to sexual abuse through digital platforms.

The report highlights the vulnerabilities to trafficking of foreign women in prostitution and the need to raise awareness of the support services available to victims and develop exit programmes for persons wishing to leave prostitution.

Migrant workers are another group vulnerable to human trafficking, particularly those employed in agriculture, construction, fishing, cleaning, hospitality and transport. While the Norwegian authorities have taken several steps to prevent their exploitation, GRETA considers that the authorities should proactively provide migrant workers with information on their rights and employment conditions, support services, grievance mechanisms and access to remedies. Other measures include banning recruitment fees by law, ensuring stable payment of wages and introducing more frequent controls and stronger sanctions for employers who operate with illegal agreements, conditions and contracts.

GRETA stresses that asylum seekers and refugees are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking and asks the authorities to introduce capacity-building measures for the border police to better detect victims of human trafficking. The authorities should also facilitate greater access to the labour market, vocational training and Norwegian language courses for asylum seekers.

Children and young people are identified as a vulnerable group exposed to risks of trafficking for different forms of exploitation. A growing concern is child criminal exploitation by criminal gangs, in particular in selling drugs. The report notes that frontline workers often lack adequate knowledge about child trafficking and the absence of a specialised shelter for child victims is another concern. GRETA calls on the Norwegian authorities to take proactive measures to identify child victims without solely relying on police risk assessment and to establish mandatory and regular training on human trafficking for child welfare workers, health-care providers and other frontline professionals.

More generally, GRETA calls on the Norwegian authorities to improve the identification of victims of trafficking by setting up a formalised National Referral Mechanism which defines the roles and responsibilities of all frontline actors who may come into contact with victims, and co-operating with specialised NGOs to improve the proactive detection of victims.

The report highlights the low number of convictions for human trafficking in Norway, in particular for trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. To improve the criminal justice response to human trafficking, the Norwegian authorities should provide adequate financial and human resources to the specialised police anti-trafficking units as well as reinforced training to prosecutors and judges.

Other recommendations include ensuring access to free legal aid and compensation to victims of trafficking and improving the application of the recovery and reflection period.

Furthermore, GRETA calls on the Norwegian authorities to take additional measures to ensure that victims of trafficking are not punished for unlawful acts they were compelled to commit.

 GRETA and Norway

In a new report published today, the Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking, GRETA, has welcomed progress in Portugal to tackle human trafficking but has called on the authorities to improve the identification of victims and ensure that they have access to legal aid and compensation.

The report examines the measures taken by Portugal to implement the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking convention, with a particular focus on the prevention of vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings and the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

GRETA welcomes the adoption of the 5th National Action Plan for Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking, covering the period 2025-27, following an external evaluation of the previous national action plan.

Positive developments also include the setting up of a working group of prosecutors specialised in human trafficking and working groups on trafficking in sports and on child, early, and forced marriages. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has reduced the backlog in issuing residence permits and increased the number of permits granted to victims of human trafficking. Moreover, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has instructed prosecutors to pay particular attention to vulnerable victims and to file compensation claims on their behalf.

GRETA notes that Portugal remains primarily a country of destination of trafficked persons but is also a country of origin and transit. In the period 2021-24, the number of presumed victims was 690 and the number of formally identified victims was 250, most of them foreign men trafficked for the purpose of labour exploitation. There were 39 children identified as victims. A total of 22 Portuguese nationals were recorded amongst the formally identified victims.

The Portuguese authorities have identified heightened risks of human trafficking among migrant workers, especially in seasonal agriculture, Portuguese nationals from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds or with mental health conditions, women in prostitution, children and young people, including unaccompanied or separated children, homeless persons and persons with disabilities.

GRETA stresses the need to improve the protection of migrant workers by strengthening labour inspection mechanisms, enhancing communication and co-ordination between the Labour Conditions Authority and the police, and ensuring that subcontracting companies involved in trafficking, particularly in agriculture, are effectively investigated and prosecuted.

Further efforts are also needed to prevent trafficking in children and young people through a comprehensive school-based prevention strategy and targeted training and awareness-raising initiatives in the sports sector to prevent the risk of boys and young men involved in football and other sports being exploited.

The report places special emphasis on the need for additional steps to improve the identification of victims of trafficking in human beings, including by ensuring that, in practice, the formal identification of victims does not depend on their co-operation with law enforcement agencies or on the outcome of criminal proceedings.

GRETA welcomes the efforts made in Portugal to strengthen online safety and prevent trafficking in human beings facilitated by ICT. It notes that further action would be needed to raise awareness and train schoolchildren on issues related to recruitment and abuse via the internet and social media. It also asks the authorities to develop capacity-building and digital tools to conduct proactive investigations and gather electronic evidence in cases of human trafficking.

In its report, GRETA calls on the Portuguese authorities to implement several recommendations issued in previous reports that remain unimplemented or partially implemented in three particularly important areas: victims’ access to legal aid, compensation and the non-punishment provision.

It reiterates, once again, that the national authorities should ensure that all victims of human trafficking, including third-country nationals, can effectively access legal assistance and free legal aid. Further, GRETA stresses that the authorities should guarantee victims’ effective access to compensation by making full use of the freezing and confiscation of criminal assets, reviewing the conditions and procedures for granting state compensation and providing training to legal practitioners, prosecutors and the judiciary.

Furthermore, the authorities should ensure compliance with the non-punishment provision established by the convention by adopting a specific provision in national law and developing guidance and training for police officers and prosecutors.

 GRETA and Portugal

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 Azerbaijan from 18 to 22 May 2026 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 Azerbaijani 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 Azerbaijan have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with Mr Seyfulla Azimov, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and National Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as with officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (including the State Labour Inspectorate and the Centre for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Science and Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The delegation also met officials from the State Migration Service, the State Border Service, the State Security Service, the State Committee on Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, the State Customs Committee, the State Tourism Agency and the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organisations. In addition, meetings were held with prosecutors from the Prosecutor General’s Office and judges from the Baku Court for Serious Crimes and the Baku Court of Appeal, as well as with members of a guardianship and trusteeship body and a commission for the protection of children’s rights in Baku.

Further, the GRETA delegation met representatives of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson).

The visit provided an opportunity to visit the state shelter for victims of trafficking, as well as two NGO-run shelters in Baku, one supporting women victims of violence and the other - vulnerable children.

In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation travelled to Sumgayit, where it met police officers, prosecutors, judges and labour inspectors, as well as members of the guardianship and trusteeship body and the commission for the protection of children’s rights.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations and lawyers representing victims of trafficking. It also met with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan.

The visit was carried out by Mr Thomas Ahlstrand and Ms Ia Dadunashvili, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Elvin Aliyev of the Secretariat of the Convention.

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

 GRETA and Azerbaijan

The Council of Europe’s group of experts on trafficking in human beings, GRETA, has welcomed a series of steps taken by the UK authorities in recent years to tackle human trafficking.

At the same time, GRETA has urged the UK to adopt a number of further measures to bring the country’s laws, policies and practices fully into line with the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking convention.

In its latest UK evaluation report, published today, GRETA notes that the number of possible victims of trafficking referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) rose sharply from 12,687 in 2021 to 17,390 in the period from January to September 2025.

The most common nationality of people referred to the NRM during the reporting period (2021 to 2025) was British. Labour exploitation remained the predominant form of trafficking, accounting for 29% of referrals between 2021 and 2024. For child victims, the main form of exploitation between 2021 and 2025 was criminal exploitation – notably relating to so-called “county-line” drug networks. 

GRETA welcomed a number of measures taken by the UK authorities to cut delays in identifying victims of trafficking. These include reforms to the NRM, the recruitment of additional staff and the devolution of decisions concerning presumed child victims to local, multi-agency panels.

To further improve the identification of victims, GRETA called upon the authorities to ensure that the identification procedure does not take too long and that people referred to the NRM are not removed from the UK until the identification process has been completed.

The report also praised steps by the authorities to strengthen the criminal justice response to trafficking, including through the use of specialised web crawlers and other technological tools to detect trafficking and to collect and analyse digital evidence.

Nevertheless, GRETA stressed the need for more resources, increased prioritisation and better co-ordination between law enforcement and other agencies, as well as reinforced financial investigations.

GRETA welcomed the revised guidance introduced in England, Wales and Scotland – in response to a judgment from the European Court of Human Rights – on not prosecuting victims of trafficking for crimes they were forced to commit.

However, GRETA asked UK authorities to take further legislative and practical measures in the light of continuing reports that victims of trafficking have been prosecuted and convicted for offences that they were compelled to carry out.

Today’s report highlights additional areas in which further progress is necessary. Further safeguards are needed to prevent trafficking for labour exploitation, for example, as well as the trafficking of people from groups at risk – including children, migrants, asylum seekers and people who are currently homeless.

In addition, GRETA expresses concern over continuing difficulties faced by victims of trafficking in accessing legal assistance and free legal aid. The report also urges the UK authorities to ensure that compensation is available to all victims of trafficking for the full damage suffered, and within a reasonable time.

Today’s report has been published together with the response of the UK authorities.

 GRETA and the United Kingdom

In a new report on Malta published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) assesses developments since 2021, regarding the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Malta, one of the first countries to ratify the Convention, has made progress in several areas. The authorities adopted a National Anti-Trafficking Strategy for 2024-2030, accompanied by an Action Plan, which take into account previous GRETA recommendations. Legislative amendments strengthened protection for vulnerable victims, including extending special interviewing conditions to all children under 18, and introduced measures to improve migrants’ rights and prevent their exploitation. The report praises efforts made to enhance specialisation among police officers, prosecutors and judges dealing with human trafficking cases, alongside awareness-raising campaigns through media and public events.

While GRETA welcomes these developments, it also notes that important challenges remain. Victims of trafficking continue to face difficulties accessing the labour market, and funding for NGOs providing legal and psychological support is limited. GRETA calls on the Maltese authorities to improve victims’ social inclusion, ensure sustainable funding for support services, and increase the number of trained cultural mediators to facilitate communication and build trust with victims.

While welcoming the increased focus on the financial aspects of human trafficking, GRETA expresses concern about excessive length of court proceedings in human trafficking cases. It calls on the authorities to ensure proceedings are completed within a reasonable time, in line with the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. GRETA also reiterates its recommendation to introduce as an aggravating circumstance the offence of human trafficking committed against a child, regardless of the means used.

The report highlights that some long-standing recommendations remain unimplemented or only partially implemented. In particular, GRETA asks Malta to guarantee effective access to compensation for victims by ensuring legal aid, integrating evidence collection on harm into criminal investigations, and revising the eligibility criteria for access to state compensation.

In addition, the report discusses measures to address the vulnerabilities to human trafficking of migrant workers, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, persons in prostitution, persons with disabilities and LGBTI persons. While acknowledging the legislative and practical measures already taken, GRETA identifies priority areas requiring further action. These include strengthening legal protections for migrant workers, preventing disappearances of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, ensuring the application of child-sensitive procedures in asylum processes, and regulating sectors which can be used to sexually exploit victims of trafficking.

GRETA also stresses the need to improve victim identification by allocating sufficient resources to labour inspectors and systematically screening migrants and asylum seekers. It calls for greater access for specialised NGOs and international organisations to detention and reception centres.

The report moreover highlights the growing role of information and communication technology (ICT) in facilitating victim exploitation. While welcoming the steps taken by the Maltese authorities to promote online safety, GRETA considers that the authorities should develop further measures to prevent ICT-facilitated human trafficking, including by enabling online covert operations to identify traffickers and gather evidence in human trafficking cases, investing in capacity building and digital tools for proactive investigations and strengthening co-operation with ICT companies and Internet service providers.

The report covers the period 2021-2025 and is based on the Maltese authorities’ reply to the questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round of the Convention and a country evaluation visit carried out by GRETA in December 2024, involving meetings with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.

 The Council of Europe and Malta

“Trafficking for criminal exploitation is a growing trend across State Parties to the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, with criminal networks increasingly recruiting children via online platforms, gaming sites and social media,” stated Conny Rijken, President of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), speaking at the 26^th Conference of the OSCE Alliance against Trafficking in Persons. Titled “The Rise of Forced Criminality: Addressing a Security Blind Spot”, the conference took place in Vienna on 20-21 April 2026.

Addressing the panel “Charting the Way Forward: Turning Insight into Impact”, GRETA’s President underscored the importance of early victim identification, as required by Article 10 of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, which is a precondition for applying the non-punishment principle.

“Trafficking for the purpose of exploitation in criminal activities is directly related to the application of the non-punishment provision, enshrined in Article 26 of the Anti-Trafficking Convention,” noted GRETA’s President. Under this provision, Parties shall provide for the possibility of not imposing penalties on victims of trafficking in human beings for their involvement in unlawful activities, to the extent that they have been compelled to do so.

“The adoption of specific non-punishment provisions in national law has accelerated in response to GRETA’s recommendations, with 22 out of 47 countries evaluated by GRETA having adopted such a provision. Nevertheless, legislative measures alone are not sufficient; they must be supported by a comprehensive strategy including guidance and training for law enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors”, concluded Conny Rijken.

These issues were also discussed during a side-event entitled “Identification and non-punishment of victims of human trafficking in complex cases, including in detention settings and financially exploitative schemes”, co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), on 20 April.

Another side-event, “Beyond the Crime: Mental Health and Psychosocial Impacts of Trafficking for Forced Criminality”, co-organised by IOM and the Ministry of Migration and Asylum of Greece, included as a panellist Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of GRETA. In her presentation, she referred to a recent report prepared with the support of the Council of Europe by the Serbian NGO Atina, titled “From trauma to testimony: Guidelines for psychological support to trafficking survivors in criminal investigations and court proceedings.”

Some 30 representatives of Italian government agencies, public bodies and civil society met in Rome on 15 April 2026 to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against trafficking in Human Beings, drawing on 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Department of Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Italian Council of Ministers. The meeting was opened by Mr Stefano Pizzicannella, Coordinator of the Office for Equal Opportunities Policies and Special Envoy on Human Trafficking Issues, who reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to further develop its anti-trafficking policies and make them more effective. He also highlighted the importance of this round-table discussion, which provided a forum for dialogue for all relevant stakeholders, including NGOs supporting victims of trafficking and other civil society organisations. Ms Petya Nestorova, Head of the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe, noted that the Council of Europe stands ready to support Italy in strengthening the implementation of the Convention.

The discussions focused notably on preventing and combating trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, improving the identification of victims of trafficking, including at borders, assistance to victims of trafficking, access to the recovery and reflection period and application of the non-punishment provision.

Italy is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 21 June 2026.

 See also: GRETA and Italy

Some 35 representatives of Swiss government agencies, public bodies and civil society met in Bern on 7 April 2026 to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against trafficking in Human Beings, drawing on 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Swiss Federal Office of Police (fedpol). The meeting was opened by Mr Philippe Piatti, Head of fedpol’s Crime Prevention Division, who reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to combating human trafficking, including as part of the new strategy against organised crime. Also speaking at the opening of the meeting, Ms Petya Nestorova, Head of the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe, noted that the comprehensive provisions of the Convention had resulted in improvements in national anti-trafficking policies.

The discussions focused on strengthening the criminal justice response to human trafficking, improving victims’ access to legal aid and compensation, preventing and combating trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, and improving the identification and assistance to victims.

Switzerland is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 21 June 2026.

 See also: GRETA and Switzerland

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 Poland from 30 March to 3 April 2026, 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 Polish authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA is examining how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report on Poland have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Mr Czesław Mroczek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, which co-ordinates Poland’s efforts against trafficking in human beings, and officials of the Ministry’s Unit for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, the Office for Foreigners, the National Police Headquarters and the Border Guard Headquarters. Meetings were also held with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, including the Prosecutor General’s Office and the National School of the Judiciary and Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Labour Inspectorate and the Register for Employment Agencies at the Masovian Voivodeship (region). Furthermore, the GRETA delegation held meetings with staff of the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

In addition to having meetings in Warsaw, the delegation travelled to Białystok where it met with representatives of the voivodeship (regional) anti-trafficking team and the Border Guard Regional Branch.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lawyers, researchers and representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In the course of the visit, GRETA’s delegation visited an NGO-run shelter for victims of human trafficking and a reception centre for asylum seekers in Białystok.

The visit was carried out by Ms Conny Rijken, President of GRETA, and Mr Luka Maderic, Second Vice-President of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Parvine Ghadami of GRETA’s Secretariat.

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 in the course of 2027.

 See also: GRETA and Poland

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 Greece form 16 to 20 March 2026, 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 Greek authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire related to the evaluation.

The visit provided an opportunity to assess progress in the implementation of the Convention by Greece since GRETA’s second report, published in March 2023.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Mr Ioannis Brachos, Head of the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Heracles Moskoff, General Secretary for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, as well as officials from the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA), the General Secretariat for Equality and Human Rights, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports. Further, consultations were held with prosecutors from the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of Piraeus. As a part of the visit, the GRETA delegation met representatives of the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate and the National Transparency Authority.

Further, GRETA’s delegation met Ms Maria Antoniou, Chair of the Sub-committee for Combating Human Trafficking and Exploitation of the Hellenic Parliament. Meetings were also held with the Deputy Ombudsman for Equal Treatment, Ms Kalliopi Lykovardi, and the Greek National Commission for Human Rights’ President, Ms Maria Gavouneli, and Second Vice-President, Ellie Varchalama.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations and lawyers. Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

During the visit, the GRETA delegation visited EKKA’s shelter for women victims of violence and human trafficking in Athens, an emergency accommodation facility for unaccompanied children run by IOM, the Reception and Identification Centre for asylum seekers in Malakasa, the Closed Controlled Access Centre on the island of Samos, and Athens Airport Special Holding Facility.

The visit was carried out by Ms Biljana Lubarovska and Mr David Mancini, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Convention, and Mr Yuriy Paltsev of the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Greek authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published in the course of 2027.

 GRETA and Greece

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe examined Recommendation 527 (2025) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities entitled “Empowering cities and regions to combat human trafficking for labour exploitation.”

In its reply, adopted on 12 March 2026, the Committee of Ministers welcomes the attention paid by the Congress to the role of local and regional authorities in preventing trafficking, identifying victims, and supporting them. It shares concerns about the increase in cases of labour exploitation, which particularly affect vulnerable populations.

Recalling the work carried out by the Council of Europe and its Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), the Committee of Ministers invites member States to take into account the concrete measures set out in the Congress recommendation. It encourages them in particular to strengthen coordination between national, regional and local levels, to improve the collection of data on trafficking, to clarify the responsibilities of authorities, and to support assistance for victims.

 See also: Trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation

Some 33 representatives of government agencies, public bodies and civil society in Andorra met in Andorra la Vella on 10 March 2026 to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice and the Interior of Andorra. It was opened by Mr Joan Antoni León Peso, Secretary of State for Justice and the Interior, who reaffirmed Andorra’s commitment to implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and underlined the need for co-ordinated action by public authorities, judicial institutions, specialised professionals and civil society.

The discussions focused on measures to prevent and combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, the identification of victims of trafficking and the protection of their rights, including to residence permits. The event provided an opportunity to share good practices from other countries and discuss ways in which the Council of Europe could further support Andorra in strengthening  the implementation of the Convention.

Andorra is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 21 June 2026.

 GRETA and Andorra

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) held its 56th plenary meeting from 2 to 6 March 2026, in Strasbourg, France.

During the meeting, GRETA adopted final reports on Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Norway and Portugal as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. These reports will be sent to the authorities concerned and subsequently made public, along with eventual final comments received from the authorities.

GRETA also approved draft reports on Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention, and a draft report on Belarus as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention. GRETA decided to transmit these draft reports to the national authorities concerned and to ask them to submit their comments within two months. The comments will be taken into account when GRETA draws up its final evaluation reports. GRETA’s draft reports remain confidential until their final adoption.

During the meeting, GRETA approved a new guidance note on residence permits for victims of trafficking. GRETA also discussed the preparation of a compendium of good practices in the implementation of the Convention.

In addition, GRETA held an exchange on the forced displacement of Ukrainian children in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with the online participation of Julia Sachenko, Anti-Trafficking Expert, Independent Consultant.

 Photo gallery

Some 30 representatives of German government agencies and civil society met on 25 February 2026 in Berlin to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against trafficking in Human Beings, 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The meeting was opened by Ms Katharina Jestaedt, Director General, Head of Directorate-General for Women and Gender Equality at the Ministry, who underlined the country’s commitment to combating human trafficking and highlighted progress in this area, including the adoption of the first comprehensive National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and Protect Trafficked Persons. Ms Petya Nestorova, Head of the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe, stated that the Council of Europe is ready to assist Germany in advancing the implementation of the Convention.

The discussions focused on improving trafficking victims’ access to justice, including though the provision of legal assistance, compensation and protection measures, and the application of the non-punishment provision. The exchanges also addressed measures to combat human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, to discourage demand for services of victims, and to improve victim identification and the application of the recovery and reflection period.

Germany is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 21 June 2026.

 GRETA and Germany

A new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert body, GRETA, published today, assesses the measures taken by Latvia to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. The report pays particular attention to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to commit human trafficking offences as well as the use of technological innovations to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

The report welcomes the adoption of a new national action plan against human trafficking (2025–2027) and legislative amendments strengthening the protection of child victims of trafficking during criminal proceedings. Plans are also underway to develop a comprehensive law on the protection of victims of trafficking.

Trends and victim profiles

Between 2021 and 2024, 149 victims of trafficking were identified in Latvia (87 male and 62 female victims). Children represented 4% of all identified victims. Labour exploitation remained the predominant form of trafficking, followed by sexual exploitation and exploitation through sham marriages. While the majority of the identified victims were Latvian nationals, there has been an increase in the number of identified foreign national victims.

Vulnerable groups at increased risk

The report highlights that children and young adults in institutional care or transitioning out of it face heightened risks of trafficking. GRETA therefore considers that the authorities should strengthen the support provided to them and its availability across municipalities, include the prevention of human trafficking in the general school curriculum and provide training to all relevant professionals.

Women and girls in prostitution are also identified as being at increased risk. GRETA encourages further action to eliminate sexual and gender stereotypes, raise awareness of trafficking risks, develop exit programmes for those wishing to leave prostitution, and adopt relevant legislation to reduce exploitation.

Rising demand for migrant workers, combined with limited inspection resources, has increased the risk of labour exploitation of third-country nationals in Latvia. GRETA considers that the Latvian authorities should ensure that sufficient staff, resources and training are made available to the State Labour Inspectorate to enable it to contribute to the prevention and detection of trafficking for labour exploitation.

The report also draws attention to the Roma community, which continues to face barriers in education, housing and access to the labour market, increasing vulnerability to exploitation. GRETA recommends targeted awareness-raising on human trafficking risks, safe migration and workers’ rights, in co-operation with Roma mediators and civil society.

The report also notes vulnerabilities among asylum seekers, unaccompanied and separated children, persons with disabilities and homeless people, calling for improved training, inclusive services, adequate resources and systematic vulnerability assessments to prevent trafficking.

Victim identification and protection

GRETA calls on the Latvian authorities to ensure the timely identification of victims of trafficking and their referral to support services, regardless of whether criminal proceedings are initiated. The authorities should also strengthen the identification of child victims by ensuring the effective use of specific indicators and adopting binding protocols for the identification of trafficking victims amongst unaccompanied and separated children. Further, GRETA considers that the authorities should put in place a procedure for the identification of victims of trafficking among irregular migrants and provide training  to all relevant professionals.

The report also stresses that state-funded assistance should be sufficient, accessible to all victims regardless of co-operation with criminal proceedings and tailored to specific needs, including those of children and male victims.

Access to justice

Between 2021 and 2024, 15 persons were convicted of human trafficking offences, with prison sentences ranging from two to six years. While welcoming legislative and procedural improvements - including enhanced protections for child victims - GRETA expresses concern over lengthy court proceedings and calls for increased human and financial resources of the specialised police unit and an increased number of prosecutors assigned to human trafficking cases.

While noting positively the increases number of victims of trafficking who received state compensation (33 in 2021-2024), GRETA reiterates the need to strengthen access to compensation from perpetrators through criminal proceedings and to improve asset seizure and forfeiture.

Digital dimension of human trafficking

The report highlights the growing role of social media, fake job platforms and online grooming in trafficking cases. Following the adoption of the National Cybersecurity Law in 2024, GRETA encourages further investment in digital tools, proactive investigations and targeted training to counter ICT-facilitated human trafficking.

GRETA and Latvia

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 Slovenia from 16 to 19 December 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, which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.

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

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met with Ms Helga Dobrin, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, and Mr Gregor Hudrič, National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. The delegation also held consultations with representatives of the Ministry of the Interior (including the Criminal Police Directorate,  the Migration Directorate, the National Bureau of Investigation, the IT and Telecommunications Office, the Police Academy and the Uniformed Police Directorate), the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (including the Labour Inspectorate and the Employment Service), the Ministry of Finance (including the Financial Administration and the Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering), the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry for Solidarity-Based Future, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consultations were also held with prosecutors from the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office and the Specialised State Prosecutor's Office, and judges from the Supreme Court, the Higher Courts of Ljubljana and Koper, and the District Court of Maribor.

Further, GRETA’s delegation met members of Parliament and representatives of the Office for National Minorities and the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsperson.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, the Bar Association of Slovenia, academia and trade unions. Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

During the visit, the GRETA delegation visited an asylum reception centre for unaccompanied and separated children and an immigration detention centre in  Postojna.

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

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Slovenian authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt its final report, which will be published by the end of 2026.

 GRETA and Slovenia

The 37th meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings took place on 18 December 2025, in Strasbourg and online.

On the basis of GRETA’s reports, the Committee adopted recommendations concerning Bulgaria, Denmark, Georgia, Montenegro and Romania as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention.

The Committee also considered the reports submitted by the authorities of the Czech Republic and Türkiye on measures taken to comply with the Committee’s recommendations issued as part of the second evaluation round of the implementation of the Convention, as well as the reports submitted by the authorities of Iceland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden in reply to the Committee of the Parties’ recommendations issued as part of the third evaluation round.  

 Galerie photos (Flickr)

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 Serbia from 1 to 5 December 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 Serbian 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 Serbia have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with Mr Nenad Simić, National Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and staff of the Office for Coordination of Activities in Combating THB at the Ministry of the Interior, representatives of law enforcement agencies and of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, as well as prosecutors and judges. The delegation also met with representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs (including the Labour Inspectorate and the Sector for Social Protection), the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications (including the National Contact Centre for Child Online Safety), the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade (including the Market Inspectorate) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Further, the GRETA delegation met Mr Zoran Pašalić, Protector of Citizens (Ombudsperson), in his capacity as National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, and representatives of his Office, as well as the Roma National Minority Council.

The visit provided an opportunity to visit the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings and the state shelter for victims of human trafficking in Belgrade.

In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation travelled to Novi Sad where it met members of the local anti-trafficking team and visited a safe house for victims of domestic violence which also assists victims of human trafficking.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations and lawyers representing victims of trafficking. It also met representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ).

The visit was carried out by Ms Conny Rijken, President of GRETA, and Ms Lynn Chircop Faure, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Elvin Aliyev of the Secretariat of the Convention.

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

 GRETA and Serbia

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 Ireland from 1 to 5 December 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, which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.

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

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met with Mr Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Secretary General in the Department of Justice, and Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. The GRETA delegation also held consultations with representatives of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Health, and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Meetings were also held with An Garda Síochána, including the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit and the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, the Legal Aid Board, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), the International Protection Office, the Workplace Relations Commission, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and Coimisiún na Meán.

Consultations were also held with Mr Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is Ireland’s National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, and with Mr Ger Deering, the Ombudsman. Further, GRETA met representatives of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, the Bar of Ireland, academia, trade unions and the private sector (Harcourt Programme). Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

During the visit, the GRETA delegation visited Rosa’s Place, a specialised shelter for women who are victims of human trafficking, as well as a unit accommodating unaccompanied children operated by Tusla.

The delegation travelled to Cork, where it held meetings with the Cork City Divisional Protective Services Unit and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau’s Cork Satellite Hub. The delegation also paid a visit to Ruhama’s Cork-Kerry Service, which offers support to women impacted by commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Further, a meeting was held with members of the coalition Cork Against Human Trafficking.

The visit was carried out by Ms Dorothea Czarnecki and Mr Georgios Vanikiotis, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Convention, and Ms Jenna Logeais from the Secretariat of the Convention

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Irish authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt its final report, which will be published in 2026.

 GRETA and Ireland

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 North Macedonia from 1 to 5 December 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 authorities of North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held meetings with Ms Eva Ilievska, Deputy National Co-ordinator for Fight Against Trafficking in Human Being, as well as with representatives from the Ministry of the Interior (including the Unit for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants), the Ministry of Justice (including the Commission for Monetary Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes and the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors), the Ministry of Economy and Labour (including the State Labour Inspectorate and the Employment Service Agency), the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime and Corruption, and the Criminal Court Office of the Basic Court Skopje 1. The visit also provided an opportunity to meet members of the mobile teams for the identification of vulnerable persons in Skopje, Tetovo and Gevgelija.

In addition, the GRETA delegation met with Ms Frosina Kiprovska Lukik, National Rapporteur on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ombudsman’s Office. A meeting was also held with members of the Commission for Political System and the Commission for Defence and Security of the National Assembly. 

The GRETA delegation conducted separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, lawyers and victims of human trafficking. Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM),  Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) andthe Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited the shelter for victims of human trafficking run by NGO Open Gate - La Strada Macedonia, the Gazi Baba Reception Centre for Foreigners, the SOS Village for children and a daycare centre for street children in Skopje, and the Vinojug Temporary Transit Centre for migrants in Gevgelija.

The visit was carried out by Mr David Mancini and Ms Rita Penedo, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Mesut Bedirhanoglu from the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the authorities of North Macedonia for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report in November 2026.

 GRETA and North Macedonia

A new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert body GRETA, published today, evaluates the steps taken by Denmark since 2020 to address risks of human trafficking among the most vulnerable groups, to detect and support victims, and to punish the offenders.

In the report, GRETA welcomes improvements to the legislative framework, including amendments to the Criminal Code, and the adoption of a new Children’s Act and legislation strengthening the protection of migrant workers. It also welcomes the adoption of the 6th National Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the period 2022-2025, which is supported by increased funding.

In Denmark, most of the 420 victims identified in 2020-2024 were women (64%) and foreign nationals from non-EU countries, notably Nigeria and Thailand. Child victims represented less than 7% of the victims. Only 12 Danish victims were identified. The predominant form of exploitation of the victims was sexual exploitation, followed by forced labour and forced criminality.

Undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees are at risk of various forms of exploitation in Denmark. Women from both EU and non-EU countries who are engaged in prostitution are at risk of sexual exploitation. Additionally, LGBTI persons, especially transgender women, are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

The report notes that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are especially vulnerable to trafficking while awaiting the examination of their applications. GRETA calls on the authorities to address the issue of unaccompanied children disappearing from reception facilities by providing them with a safe environment and to raise awareness among them regarding their rights and the risks of human trafficking.

Among steps to prevent trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, GRETA encourages the authorities to carry out regular and co-ordinated multi-agency labour inspections, take measures to license and monitor temporary employment and recruitment agencies, and promote safe reporting procedures for foreign workers.

Moreover, GRETA calls upon the Danish authorities to step up efforts to identify victims of trafficking for different forms of exploitation, in particular among third-country nationals who might be staying irregularly in Denmark as a direct consequence of having been trafficked. Further, GRETA considers that the Danish authorities should increase efforts to identify possible victims of human trafficking among Danish nationals, including by raising public awareness and providing additional training to relevant professionals

Other key recommendations made in the report concern the provision of a safe and suitable accommodation for male victims of trafficking and improving access to legal assistance and free legal aid by specialised lawyers.

The report notes that the number of investigations concerning reports of human trafficking increased in 2023-2024, but the number of convictions has remained limited, due to difficulties in obtaining sufficient evidence. GRETA considers that the Danish authorities should enhance the capacity to proactively investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases, particularly for the purpose of labour exploitation, and strengthen co-operation between law enforcement and NGOs.

GRETA pays particular attention to how offenders use information and communication technology to recruit and the use of technological innovations to prevent human trafficking, detect victims and collect evidence. GRETA welcomes the efforts made to raise awareness of the risks of technology-facilitated trafficking and to develop and use IT tools to detect indicators of human trafficking.

In the report, GRETA also evaluates progress made in areas examined during previous evaluation rounds, such as the provision of a recovery and reflection period, the issuing of residence permits and the repatriation and return of victims.

The number of victims of trafficking who have been awarded compensation remains low. Therefore, GRETA calls upon the Danish authorities to simplify the procedures for applying for compensation in court, to ensure that the compensation awarded is effectively paid, and to facilitate access to state compensation by reviewing the eligibility criteria.

 GRETA and Denmark

 Denmark and the Council of Europe

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) held its 55th plenary meeting from 17 to 21 November 2025, in Strasbourg, France.

During the meeting, GRETA adopted final reports on Latvia, Malta and the United Kingdom as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. These reports will be sent to the authorities concerned and subsequently made public, along with eventual final comments received from the authorities.

GRETA also approved draft reports on Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Norway and Portugal as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention. GRETA decided to transmit these draft reports to the national authorities concerned and to ask them to submit their comments within two months. The comments will be taken into account when GRETA draws up its final evaluation reports. GRETA’s draft reports remain confidential until their final adoption.

During the meeting, GRETA adopted the programme and list of rapporteurs for evaluation visits in 2026, and discussed the preparation of a compendium of good practice on the basis of GRETA’s reports.

 Photos gallery

Some 30 representatives of Hungarian government agencies and civil society met in Budapest on 13 November 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Department for European Home Affairs Cooperation of the Ministry of Interior of Hungary. It was opened by Ms Mónika Herczeg, Deputy State Secretary for EU and Foreign Affairs, who stressed the Hungarian authorities’ commitment to combating human trafficking by strengthening measures aimed at prevention, improving the prosecution of perpetrators and protecting victims, in line with the requirements of the Convention.

Discussions focused on victims’ access to legal assistance, free legal aid and compensation, the criminal justice response to human trafficking, victim identification and provision of assistance, and access to a recovery and reflection period and residence permits.

Hungary is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 21 June 2026.

 GRETA and Hungary

The Romanian authorities have taken significant steps to combat trafficking in human beings, but additional efforts are needed to protect vulnerable groups from trafficking risks, identify and assist victims, and punish the perpetrators, according to a new report published today by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) of the Council of Europe.

The report evaluates the measures taken by Romania since 2021 to prevent vulnerable people falling victim to trafficking in human beings, to detect and support victims, and to punish the offenders, paying particular attention to how offenders use information and communication technology (ICT) to identify and exploit their victims, and the way law enforcement uses this technology to combat this crime.

GRETA welcomes recent legislative changes which increase the sanctions for human trafficking and improve victims’ access to legal aid and compensation. Other positive steps are the adoption of a new National Strategy against trafficking in human beings (2024-28) and the establishment of an Interministerial Committee for Strategic Intersectoral Coordination of the Fight against trafficking in human beings.

Romania remains predominantly a source country for victims of human trafficking but is increasingly becoming also a destination country. Between 2020 and 2024, the Romanian authorities identified 2,662 victims of human trafficking, nearly half of whom were children. The main form of exploitation of the identified victims was sexual exploitation, followed by forced labour, forced begging and exploitation in criminal activities. The majority of the identified victims were Romanian nationals trafficked within the country or to countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France and Spain.

The report notes that children from Roma communities, children in institutional care and children in street situations are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. Since many identified victims had previously been in institutional care, GRETA underlines the need for the Romanian authorities to increase the resources of child protection services and implement social and economic measures and programmes aimed at supporting children in vulnerable situations.

GRETA also highlights serious gaps in protecting persons with disabilities living in residential centres and calls upon the authorities to ensure a regular, effective and independent monitoring of these centres.

GRETA expresses concern about the risks of trafficking and exploitation faced by the increasing number of migrant workers, particularly from South Asia, whose vulnerabilities are heightened due to language barriers, deceptive recruitment practices and inadequate protection. It consequently calls on the authorities to strengthen labour protection, introduce licencing of recruitment agencies which act as intermediaries for migrant workers and monitor fraudulent online job advertisements.

While welcoming the adoption of a new National Mechanism for Identification and Referral of Trafficking Victims in 2023, GRETA expresses concern about persistent barriers to proactive victim detection, including insufficient training of professionals and a shortage of labour inspectors. The report also highlights the need to improve the assistance to victims of trafficking by guaranteeing adequate and safe accommodation, appropriate funding and access to health care.

In recent years, the Romanian authorities have detected an increased use of online platforms for recruiting and exploiting victims, including through sex video chat activities. To tackle this risk, they have carried out awareness-raising campaigns on online exploitation risks and training programmes for police officers and prosecutors. Moreover, the Romanian Police use forensic software to detect online sexual exploitation. GRETA welcomes these steps and encourages the authorities to continue investing in training and digital tools to conduct proactive investigations, and to strengthen co-operation with ICT companies and internet service providers.

The report notes that in the 2020-24 period, 764 individuals were convicted of human trafficking offences. To avoid human trafficking cases being re-qualified as lesser offences, GRETA stresses the need for further training and specialisation of investigators, prosecutors and judges. Other issues of concern highlighted in the report are the excessive length of criminal proceedings in human trafficking cases and the involvement of public officials in human trafficking.

The number of victims of human trafficking awarded compensation by courts has increased, but few of these victims actually receive compensation as assets confiscated from perpetrators are not always designated for victim compensation. GRETA calls upon the authorities to review the legislation in order to enable victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation to claim compensation from their traffickers for the earnings from exploitation in prostitution that were withheld from them by traffickers.

* * *

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

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 Belgium from 3 to 7 November 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 Belgian 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 Belgium have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met with representatives of the federal authorities, in particular the Federal Public Service (FPS) Justice, the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, and the FPS Foreign Affairs, as well as the National Social Security Office (ONSS), the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (FEDASIL), the Immigration Office, the Guardianship Service, the Federal Police, the College of Public Prosecutors and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Commission for Financial Assistance to Victims of Intentional Acts of Violence. The GRETA delegation also met with members of the Justice Committee of the Belgian Federal Parliament. In addition, the delegation held talks with representatives of all the federated entities: the French Community (Wallonia-Brussels Federation), the German-speaking Community, the Flemish Community and Region (Flanders), the Walloon Region and the Brussels Region.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of the Federal Migration Centre (Myria), which acts as the independent national rapporteur on human trafficking, and the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRA). It also met with Mr. Soulayman Laqdim, General Delegate for Children's Rights in the French Community, and Ms. Caroline Vrijens, Children's Rights Commissioner in Flanders (Kinderrechtencommissaris).

Separate meetings were also held with representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lawyers and representatives of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

During the visit, the delegation travelled to Ghent, where it met with investigators, labour inspectors and magistrates specialising in human trafficking cases, and visited a reception centre for asylum seekers. It also visited a secure centre for the reception of child victims of trafficking in Flanders, run by an NGO.

The visit was carried out by Mr Thomas Ahlstrand and Ms Ulrike Haberl-Schwarz, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Parvine Ghadami from the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Belgian authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt its final report, which is expected to be published in autumn 2026.

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.

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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.

A new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert body GRETA, published today, evaluates the steps taken by Montenegro since 2021 to address risks of trafficking among the most vulnerable groups, to detect and support victims, and to punish the offenders.

The report welcomes the steps taken by the Montenegrin authorities to develop the legislative framework by adopting a specific provision on the non-punishment of victims of human trafficking for offences they were compelled to commit, the amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid, and the conclusion of a revised agreement on mutual co-operation between the authorities and civil society in the area of combating human trafficking.

Montenegro is a country of origin, destination and transit for victims of trafficking. The number of formally identified victims of human trafficking has increased over the years. In the period 2021-2024, a total of 67 victims were identified, the majority of whom were children (79%). The main form of exploitation was forced begging, followed by forced marriage and sexual exploitation. 

The report notes that members of the Roma and Egyptian communities, in particular women and children, stateless persons, migrant workers and asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking in Montenegro.

The number of third-country migrant workers in Montenegro has increased, due to growing workforce shortages. GRETA considers that the authorities should reduce migrant workers’ dependency on their employers by issuing work permits that allow them to change employers, set up safe reporting mechanisms, and ensure the availability of interpreters for the languages commonly spoken by foreign workers during inspections. 

Further, GRETA considers that the Montenegrin authorities should take steps to prevent asylum seekers and refugees from becoming victims of trafficking in human beings, through improving their access to the labour market and health care. Moreover, GRETA calls upon the Montenegrin authorities to increase the human and financial resources of centres for social work with a view to ensuring that unaccompanied and separated children are provided with adequate protection by legal guardians.

While noting the measures taken to address the vulnerabilities of Roma and Egyptian children to human trafficking, the report stresses the need for further efforts to address their poverty and social exclusion, and to ensure that persons at a risk of statelessness have full access to civil registration procedures.

GRETA welcomes the multi-disciplinary approach to victim identification in Montenegro, which is independent of the initiation of criminal proceedings. Nevertheless, GRETA considers that the Montenegrin authorities should ensure that a proper procedure is in place for the identification of victims of trafficking among irregular migrants and asylum seekers, including unaccompanied and separated children, by the border police and in reception centres.

While welcoming the opening of a designated state shelter for child victims of trafficking, GRETA is concerned by the continuing absence of a shelter for male victims of trafficking. Consequently, GRETA calls upon the authorities to ensure the availability of accommodation for male victims and the transparency of the process of approval and revocation of licenses for NGOs which are running the shelters.

The Montenegrin authorities have stressed the increasing role of the internet in the recruitment and exploitation of victims, with children being particularly vulnerable. GRETA invites the authorities to develop further measures to prevent ICT-facilitated trafficking, including via capacity building and digital tools to conduct proactive investigations, and to enhance co-operation with ICT companies and Internet service providers.

Finally, GRETA repeats a certain number of recommendations already made in preceding reports which have not been implemented and should be addressed as a matter of priority:

• guarantee effective access to compensation for victims of trafficking, by making full use of the legislation on the seizure and confiscation of criminal assets, and bringing into force the Law on Compensation for Damages to Victims of Violent Crimes;
• ensure that whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that a foreign national is a victim of human trafficking, the person concerned has access to a recovery and reflection period;
• proactively investigate cases of trafficking in human beings and ensure that sufficient human and financial resources are available to the police and prosecution.

***

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

A new report by the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert body GRETA, published today, evaluates the steps taken by Georgia in 2020-2024 to address risks of trafficking among the most vulnerable groups, detect and support victims, and punish the offenders. The report pays particular attention to the increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) by traffickers and the efforts made by the authorities to respond to this challenging new trend.

GRETA notes positively the regular adoption of biennial anti-trafficking national action plans and the opening of a new state shelter for victims of human trafficking in Tbilisi in 2023.  Furthermore, in 2021, the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was amended to ensure that victims’ access to state compensation is not conditional on failure to obtain compensation from the perpetrators.

The number of victims of trafficking identified in 2020-2024 was 49, the majority of whom were female and nearly half were children. Forced begging was the predominant form of exploitation of the identified victims, followed by labour exploitation and sexual exploitation. Contrary to the previous reporting period, most of the identified victims were foreign nationals (73%), originating primarily from Azerbaijan, Russia, Thailand and Armenia. While fewer Georgian victims were identified, it is acknowledged that Georgian citizens continue to be trafficked to other countries, such as Germany, Italy, Greece, Iran and Türkiye.

The report notes that children and young persons in street situations are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking in Georgia, as are members of ethnic minorities. There are cases of children dropping out of school due to their involvement in child labour. Children from the Azerbaijani and Roma minorities are often detected among persons in street situations as well as in cases of child marriage. GRETA calls on the authorities to increase the resources of the shelters, day-care centres and mobile teams working with children in street situations, and to ensure the implementation of legal safeguards against child labour, including prevention, effective control and referral of cases of child labour.

GRETA welcomes the measures taken by the authorities extend the mandate of the Labour Inspection Office and strengthen the protection of migrant workers, including through the control of intermediary companies. The report notes, however, that the resources of labour inspectors are insufficient to carry out inspections in rural or remote areas, and recommends additional measures to prevent trafficking of migrant workers through the provision of information, training and in the framework of bilateral labour mobility agreements.

Persons seeking international protection in Georgia face poverty and unemployment, which can make them particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. GRETA considers that the authorities should train relevant professionals on the detection of trafficking indicators among asylum seekers and refugees, and improve the social and economic integration of asylum seekers and refugees.

Further, GRETA asks the authorities to conduct research into the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities to human trafficking and develop preventive measures specifically aimed at this group.

While welcoming the efforts to strengthen cyber security and online safety, GRETA considers that the authorities should improve the detection and proactive investigation of ICT-facilitated trafficking, including online child trafficking, and continue developing co-operation with ICT companies and Internet service providers to prevent it.

GRETA’s report also repeats a certain number of recommendations made in preceding reports which have not been implemented or have been only partially implemented, and should therefore be addressed as a priority:

• review the National Referral Mechanism to ensure that identification as a victim of trafficking is not dependent on the victim’s willingness to co-operate in the criminal proceedings and is based on a victim-centred and trauma-informed approach;

• facilitate and guarantee access to compensation for victims of trafficking, including by ensuring that victims can obtain a decision on compensation from the offender, and that the collection of evidence about the harm the victim has suffered is part of the criminal investigations;

• ensure that human trafficking offences are prosecuted as such, rather than as lesser offences, every time the circumstances of the case allow this, and lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for those convicted.

Finally, GRETA expresses concern over the negative impact of recently adopted legislation on civil society organisations working with victims of trafficking and individuals vulnerable to trafficking, whose private data may become publicly accessible if they receive assistance from entities labelled as “foreign agents”.  GRETA calls on the Georgian authorities to build strategic partnerships with civil society actors working with victims of trafficking and vulnerable groups, and to protect the private life and identity of victims of trafficking.

 GRETA and Georgia

***

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

On the eve of the European Anti-Trafficking Day, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) emphasizes that human trafficking is not only a grave violation of human rights but also a threat to democracy itself. Trafficking undermines the rule of law, weakens public trust, and exploits the most vulnerable, including migrants, asylum seekers, and disadvantaged minorities.

“Where people are silenced, bought, displaced or exploited, the very foundations of our democratic societies are undermined. Trafficking in human beings is not only a violation of individual rights – it is an assault on the shared values that unite us: human dignity, equality, and justice,” stated Conny Rijken, President of GRETA.

“The Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact reminds us that democracy is not an abstract principle, but a living commitment to the dignity and participation of all. To prevent and combat human trafficking is to make democracy real – for the woman forced into sexual exploitation, for the worker trapped in forced labour, for the child deprived of freedom and hope,” she underlined.

Through its monitoring, recommendations and dialogue with governments and civil society, GRETA works to uphold this democratic promise in practice. Protecting victims, preventing exploitation, and ensuring accountability are essential elements of a democratic system that leaves no one behind.

In times of growing inequality, conflicts, and economic uncertainty, traffickers exploit vulnerability and indifference. Strengthening democracy – as called for by the New Democratic Pact for Europe – means strengthening our collective ability to resist exploitation, restore trust, and protect every human being.

On this 18 October, GRETA calls on all states and societies to renew their commitment through concrete and effective actions against this grave crime. Combating human trafficking is not only a moral duty – it is a democratic imperative. By defending victims and upholding their rights, democracy itself is strengthened.

***

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

A new report published today by the Council of Europe anti-trafficking group GRETA, covering the period 2020-2024, examines the measures taken by Bulgaria to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. The report pays particular attention to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to commit human trafficking offences as well as the use of technological innovations to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute traffickers.

GRETA’s report notes that during the reporting period, frequent changes of the chair of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and delays in the adoption of the budget for the implementation of the national anti-trafficking programme have slowed down the implementation of key reforms and policies. In 2024 the state budget allocated to the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was increased to BGN 950,800 (approximately €486,000). While welcoming this increase, GRETA is concerned that the financial resources provided by the Bulgarian Government for combating human trafficking remain insufficient to meet the actual needs, and calls upon the authorities to allocate appropriate funding and ensure its timely availability for the different services provided.

While sexual exploitation of women and girls remains the predominant form of exploitation of the identified victims of human trafficking in Bulgaria, the report notes a rise in identified victims of forced labour, who are mostly men. Another trend is the increase in foreign nationals detected as victims of trafficking. The use of the internet and social media by traffickers has become more prevalent, enabling them to recruit and control victims remotely.

The report stresses that disadvantaged minorities, people with disabilities, children from disadvantaged areas, unaccompanied children and persons facing domestic violence, addiction or severe debt are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. Asylum seekers and refugees face significant risks due to social and economic challenges. There is an increased awareness of the risks of trafficking of migrant workers, whose number in Bulgaria has risen due to important labour emigration and demographic changes.

The report highlights the vulnerabilities of Roma to human trafficking and measures taken to address them, including through the work of Roma mediators. In this context, GRETA considers that the Bulgarian authorities should continue strengthening the prevention of human trafficking through sustained social, economic and other measures for the Roma community.

GRETA also considers that the Bulgarian authorities should continue investing in the prevention of child trafficking, with a particular focus on online methods of recruitment, and the protection of children from harmful practices, including child and forced marriages.

The report notes with concern that there is no vulnerability assessment of migrants at the borders nor in immigration detention facilities, and no interpreters to facilitate communication. GRETA stresses the need for proactive identification of victims of trafficking among asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, and the development of programmes for the social and economic integration of refugees.

Further, GRETA welcomes the measures taken to raise awareness of the risks and to prevent trafficking and exploitation of Ukrainian refugees and considers that the Bulgarian authorities should continue the support provided to them, as well as ensure enhanced monitoring of workplaces employing them.

Migrant workers are at an increased risk of trafficking because of deceptive employment practices and insufficient protection. Therefore, GRETA calls upon the Bulgarian authorities to take further steps to prevent trafficking of migrant workers, including by increasing the resources of the General Labour Inspectorate, introducing a legally binding certification of recruitment agencies which act as intermediaries for migrant workers arriving in Bulgaria, and ensuring that such workers are provided with contracts and information on their rights in a language that they can understand prior to arrival in Bulgaria. Another recommendation made in the report is to ensure the sustainability of the national human trafficking hotline as an instrument for early detection of victims as well as prevention.

A significant proportion of penalties upon conviction for human trafficking continue to be suspended, and therefore GRETA calls upon the Bulgarian authorities to take additional measures to strengthen the criminal justice response to human trafficking, including by ensuring that human trafficking cases are prosecuted as such, rather than as lesser offences, and lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions.

In this context, GRETA also stresses the fundamental importance of using a definition of trafficking in human beings on which there is international consensus and calls upon the Bulgarian authorities to introduce the concept of “abuse of a position of vulnerability” in the criminalisation of human trafficking.

Moreover, GRETA considers that the Bulgarian authorities should strengthen the capacity to detect and investigate cybercrime offences, develop data sharing and co-operation protocols with private companies, including social network and gig-economy companies and rental platforms, and reassess the length of data retention obligations imposed in Internet Service Providers for the purposes of police investigations

Finally, GRETA repeats a certain number of recommendations already made in preceding reports which have not been implemented or have been only partially implemented, and should be implemented as a priority:

• ensure that victim assistance measures are effectively implemented by securing adequate funding, providing dedicated accommodation and support services specifically for child victims of trafficking, guaranteeing access to health care for all victims of trafficking, and strengthening the capacity to assist male victims;

• enshrine in law the recovery and reflection period that victims should be granted according to the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention and issue clear instructions on its application in practice;

• ensure that access to free legal aid for victims of trafficking is not dependent on proof of lack of financial means to pay for a lawyer, and that adequate funding is made available for the provision of legal assistance and legal representation;

• enable victims of trafficking to effectively exercise their right to compensation in criminal proceedings, review the legislation on state compensation, and establish a fund financed by confiscated assets from traffickers to support victim compensation.

 Press release: Bulgarian version

 GRETA and Bulgaria

* * *

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is an independent body which monitors the way countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe are bound by the Convention, as well as non-member states Belarus and Israel.

Some 35 representatives of government agencies, public bodies and civil society in Iceland met in Reykjavík on 30 September 2025 to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against trafficking in Human Beings, 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.

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice of Iceland.

The meeting was opened by Mr Haukur Gudmundsson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, who stated that the Icelandic government is committed to combating human trafficking through stronger legislation, funding, education and international cooperation. Ms Petya Nestorova, Head of the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe, noted that the Council of Europe stands ready to support Iceland in strengthening the implementation of the Convention.

The discussions focused on improving trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies, the criminal justice response to human trafficking, the setting up of a National Referral Mechanism which ensures that victims are identified independently of the opening of a criminal investigation, as well as combating human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Iceland is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 15 December 2025.

 GRETA and Iceland

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 Luxembourg from 23 to 26 September 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, which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.

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

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met with Ms Elisabeth Margue, Minister of Justice, and Ms Pascale Millim, President of the Interministerial Committee for Monitoring the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Consultations were also held with Ms Fabienne Rossler, Secretary General of the Advisory Committee on Human Rights (CCDH), which acts as the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as with Ms Claudine Konsbruck, the Ombudsman, and Mr Charel Schmidt, the Ombudsman for Children and Young People (OKAJU), together with their respective teams.

The GRETA delegation met with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth, and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. The delegation also met with the Office of the Public Prosecutor General and the Public Prosecutors’ Offices of Luxembourg and Diekirch, the examining magistrates’ office in Diekirch, and the Criminal Investigation Police Department, in particular the Organised Crime Division and the Advanced Protection Unit. It further held discussions with the Victim Support Service of the Office of the Public Prosecutor General, the Labour and Mines Inspectorate, the Directorate-General for Immigration, the National Reception Office, the National Children’s Office, and the National Youth Service.

The GRETA delegation also met with members of the Chamber of Deputies’ Justice Committee and the Luxembourg delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

During the visit, the delegation visited the National Centre for Victims of Violence, run by the Red Cross, as well as a shelter for victims of human trafficking, managed by the service InfoTraite.

The delegation also attended a hearing on a human trafficking case at the Luxembourg District Court.

Separate meetings were held with representatives of non-governmental organisations, trade union representatives, and academia.

The visit was carried out by Ms Ia Dadunashvili and Mr Peter Van Hauwermeiren, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Jenna Logeais of the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Luxembourg authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt its final report, which will be published in 2026.

 GRETA and Luxembourg

A high-level conference held in Warsaw on 18 September 2025 brought together over a hundred policymakers, experts and civil society representatives to take stock of progress in combating human trafficking and call for renewed action.

Hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration of Poland, the event was co-organised with the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Division, Poland’s La Strada Foundation against Trafficking in Human Beings and Slavery, and La Strada International. It marked the 20th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which took place on 16 May 2005 in Warsaw, as well as the 30th anniversary of La Strada International, a European NGO platform against trafficking in human beings which brings together 33 members from 24 European countries.

In his opening statement, Czesław Mroczek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration of Poland, noted: “The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and tensions on the border with Belarus create new threats related to human trafficking. The large number of refugees and migrants increases the risk of their exploitation by criminal groups.”

“The adoption of the Convention 20 years ago bore witness to unprecedented pan-European unity. Today, in these difficult times of changing geopolitical landscape and growing challenges to multilateralism and human rights, it is even more important to make sure that the provisions that the Council of Europe member states agreed upon are complied with in practice,” stated Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, noted: Drawing on the monitoring work of GRETA, Ms Nestorova highlighted the rise in trafficking for labour exploitation and the growing number of child victims, as well as low conviction rates and the need for governments to reinvest in specialised police and prosecution units.

The conference examined how the trafficking landscape has evolved over three decades and how Europe must respond to new threats. It featured presentations by Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, Diane Schmitt, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Jean-Benoit  Manhes, Deputy Co-Ordinator of the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Human Trafficking, Agata Furgała, Director of the Department for Public Order (Ministry of the Interior and Administration) and Poland’s Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, Suzanne Hoff, International Coordinator of La Strada International, and Irena Dawid-Olczyk, President of La Strada Poland. 

The Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Division has launched a new database of human trafficking case-law as part of the HUDOC-GRETA Database. It contains selected cases which have been identified during GRETA’s evaluations or submitted by members of the Council of Europe Network of specialised lawyers and NGOs providing legal assistance to victims of human trafficking.

The database aims to provide legal professionals, policy-makers, NGOs and researchers with a broad and accessible collection of case-law from States Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. It offers flexible search options based on a range of legal and thematic criteria and will be periodically updated.

By sharing knowledge on how national courts apply and interpret anti-trafficking legislation, the database seeks to assist legal professionals and other interested parties to strengthen their response to human trafficking crimes and to raise sensitivity to the realities faced by victims.

The Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Division invites legal practitioners to contribute to the expansion of the database by submitting case-law.

  HUDOC-GRETA Database

 Form "Submission of a domestic case-law on trafficking in human beings"

HUDOC (Human Rights Documentation) is an online database managed by the Council of Europe. It provides access to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as reports from the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies. HUDOC is a key resource for legal professionals, researchers, and anyone interested in human rights.

Some 30 representatives of Swedish government agencies, public bodies and civil society met in Stockholm on 9 September 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 .

The round-table meeting was co-organised by the  Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Employment of Sweden.

The meeting was opened by Ms Anna-Carin Svensson, Ambassador-at-Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons, who underlined the importance of keeping the fight against human trafficking high on the political agenda. Ms Petya Nestorova, Head of the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe, noted the need for a coordinated whole-of-government and whole-of-society response to human trafficking, backed by sufficient resources.

The discussions focused on improving trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies, the criminal justice response to human trafficking, the identification and protection of victims of trafficking, and the application of the non-punishment principle to victims of trafficking.

Sweden is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 15 December 2025.

 GRETA and Sweden

 OSCE and Council of Europe’s GRETA conduct high level meetings with Sweden

National anti-trafficking co-ordinators and rapporteurs reaffirmed their commitment to forge stronger cross-sector partnerships and integrate crisis resilience into anti-trafficking strategies at their largest annual meeting, held from 11 to 12 September at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg, France.

“Twenty-five years after the adoption of the Palermo Protocol, human trafficking is pervasive in both the digital and physical realms, as criminals adapt to exploit every crisis and vulnerability. While traffickers thrive, victims face crushing barriers to assistance and justice. This stark mismatch between the scale of the crime and our limited results demands transformative action,” said Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Representatives from 54 countries across both the Council of Europe and OSCE regions and beyond discussed current human trafficking-related challenges and how to implement international legal standards set out in the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE political commitments.

In her opening remarks, Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, said:

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which has triggered significant changes in national legislation, policies, and practice. At the same time, new challenges and persistent gaps in the implementation of the Convention require continued commitment and increased investment in training, technological infrastructure, and victim assistance measures.”

Participants discussed crisis-related provisions in National Action Plans for combating human trafficking to enhance preparedness of the national counter-trafficking mechanisms, the links between human trafficking and drugs and forced criminality, and engagement with the private sector in combating human trafficking.

The meeting was co-organized by the Council of Europe and the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

On the eve of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in calling upon States and relevant stakeholders to integrate anti-trafficking efforts into broader strategies addressing organised crime.

“Human trafficking is one of the most profitable businesses for organised crime,” stated Conny Rijken, President of GRETA. “Organised crime often thrives on the very factors that increase individuals’ vulnerability to trafficking. That is why GRETA’s ongoing fourth evaluation round of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention highlights the importance of addressing these vulnerabilities, with a focus on how States prevent trafficking, assist vulnerable victims, and punish traffickers. GRETA also stresses the growing role of technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in enabling trafficking, particularly of children, and urges States to tackle the digital dimension of this crime.”

GRETA fully supports ICAT’s call which reflects the recommendations made by GRETA during its evaluations of the Convention’s implementation by States Parties. These include strengthening financial investigations and ensuring that confiscated criminal assets are used to compensate and support victims; enhancing the capacity to investigate and prosecute tech-facilitated trafficking; protecting victims from punishment for acts committed as a direct consequence of their trafficking situation; enhancing international cooperation and cooperation with technology companies; improving the collection of reliable data; and addressing structural inequalities that increase vulnerability to trafficking.

According to the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024, nearly 74% of analysed cases were linked to organised crime groups. By joining ICAT’s call, GRETA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to a coordinated, ambitious, and rights-based response to human trafficking. “As criminal networks continue to exploit crises, inequalities and individual vulnerabilities, only comprehensive strategies - rooted in prevention, protection, and justice - can turn the tide. States must continue their efforts, ensuring that victims are supported and perpetrators are held accountable,” stated GRETA President.

GRETA is responsible for evaluating compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the States Parties. It is the only independent group of experts to monitor the implementation of binding international legal provisions in this field. The Convention entered into force in 2008 and has been ratified by all 46 member States of the Council of Europe, as well as two non-member States, Belarus and Israel.

The Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) is a UN policy forum mandated by the General Assembly resolution 61/180 to improve coordination and cooperation among UN agencies and other relevant international organisations to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including protection and support for victims and survivors. Since 2018, the Council of Europe has been a partner of ICAT.

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 Portugal from 14 to 18 July 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 Portuguese 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 Portugal have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held meetings with Ms Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, and Ms Sandra Ribeiro, President of the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG). Consultations were also conducted with Mr Manuel Albano, National Rapporteur for Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as officials from relevant ministries and public bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the Criminal Police, the Public Security Police (PSP), the National Republican Guard (GNR), the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Superior Council of Magistracy, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Commission for the Protection of Victims of Crime (CPVC), the Labour Conditions Authority (ACT), the Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE), the National Commission for the Promotion of Rights and Protection of Children and Young People (CNPDPCJ), and the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth. The GRETA delegation also met members of the Commission on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees of the Portuguese Parliament and representatives of the Office of the Portuguese Ombudsperson. Further, the delegation met members of the regional multi-disciplinary teams responsible for the support and protection of victims of trafficking, based in Lisbon and Porto.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations, the Portuguese National Bar and lawyers representing victims of trafficking. The GRETA delegation also met officials of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation travelled to the region of Alentejo where it visited a shelter for male victims of human trafficking run by an NGO. The delegation also visited the immigration detention centre at Lisbon Airport, an asylum reception centre (CAR 1) in Bobadela as well as a shelter for homeless people run by Salvation Army in Lisbon.

The visit was carried out by Ms Ia Dadunashvili and Mr David Mancini, 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 in the course of 2026.

 See also: GRETA and Portugal

Some 37 representatives of Dutch government departments, agencies and civil society organisations met in the Hague on 8 July 2025 to discuss the implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, on the basis of the third evaluation report on the Netherlands issued by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation.  

The meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, which co-ordinates national action against human trafficking. The discussions focused on victims’ access to legal aid and compensation, measures to strengthen the criminal justice response to human trafficking, the identification of victims and their access to assistance, and steps to prevent and detect human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. As part of the discussions, participants presented the national anti-trafficking action plan, adopted in 2024, draft legislation and new policy initiatives.

The Netherlands is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 15 December 2025.

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) held its 54th plenary meeting from 30 June to 4 July 2025, in Strasbourg, France.

During the meeting, GRETA adopted final reports on Bulgaria, Denmark, Georgia, Montenegro and Romania as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. These reports will be sent to the authorities concerned and will subsequently be made public, together with eventual final comments received from the authorities.

GRETA also approved draft reports on Latvia, Malta and the United Kingdom as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention. GRETA decided to transmit these draft reports to the national authorities concerned and to ask them to submit their comments within two months. The comments will be taken into account when GRETA draws up its final evaluation reports. GRETA draft reports remain confidential until their final adoption.

Moreover, GRETA decided to set up a working group to prepare a draft guidance note on residence permits for victims of human trafficking.

GRETA members also held an exchange of views with Judge Davor Derenčinović and Judge Maria Elosegui from the European Court of Human Rights.

 Photos gallery

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.

 See also: GRETA and France

The 36th meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings took place on 20 June 2025, in Strasbourg and online.

On the basis of GRETA’s reports, the Committee adopted recommendations concerning Liechtenstein and Ukraine as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention, and Albania, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Republic of Moldova and the Slovak Republic as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention.

The Committee also considered the reports submitted by the authorities of Azerbaijan, North Macedonia and Poland on measures taken to comply with the Committee’s recommendations issued as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention.

During the meeting, the Committee elected Ambassador Sini Paukkunen-Mykkänen (Finland) as Chair for a first term of office of one year and Ambassador Agnese Vilde (Latvia) as Vice-Chair for a first term of office of one year.

In its latest evaluation report on Croatia, published today, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) commends the authorities for legislative and policy advances but warns of persistent and unaddressed shortcomings in victim identification and assistance.

The report, covering developments since 2020, evaluates the measures taken by Croatia to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings and progress made in selected areas examined by GRETA during previous evaluations of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

GRETA welcomes the adoption of Croatia’s National Plan for Combating Human Trafficking (2024-2030), which envisages measures aimed at raising awareness of trafficking among vulnerable groups and preventing online trafficking, as well as improving the identification and referral to assistance of victims.

The report notes that the number of victims formally identified by the police has decreased by half compared to the previous reporting period (from 200 to 105). The majority of the victims were female, with sexual exploitation being the predominant form of exploitation, followed by forced criminality, labour exploitation and forced marriage. The vast majority of the victims were Croatian nationals.

The number of migrant workers in Croatia has increased significantly and they are exposed to risks of exploitation and trafficking. While welcoming the legal changes made to provide greater protection for migrant workers, GRETA considers that the human and financial resources of the State Inspectorate should be increased to enable labour inspectors to prevent and detect cases of human trafficking, and the monitoring of private employment agencies intensified.

Asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children, are also vulnerable to human trafficking, and their numbers have increased in recent years. GRETA calls on the Croatian authorities to put in place procedures for screening asylum seekers for vulnerabilities, including at border crossing points, and to provide further training to border and asylum officials to enable early identification of trafficking victims and protect them from further harm.

The report raises concerns about gaps in the provision of assistance to victims of trafficking and the placement of child victims in institutions for children experiencing behavioural challenges. Amongst the recommendations made by GRETA is to secure a sufficient number of places for victims of trafficking in specialised shelters, and to ensure that access to the shelters is provided without discrimination.

The report also notes that no victims of trafficking were granted compensation from either perpetrators or the state, and calls on the authorities to guarantee effective access to compensation by ensuring victims’ access to legal assistance and free legal aid at the outset of the proceedings, and reviewing the eligibility criteria for state compensation.

 GRETA and Croatia

A new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) welcomes the progress made by the Albanian authorities in the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, but underscores that further efforts are needed to ensure effective protection, support and justice for victims.

The report, covering the period 2020-2024, evaluates the measures taken by Albania to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish offenders. It pays particular attention to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to commit human trafficking offences.

GRETA notes that Albania has strengthened its anti-trafficking response through the adoption of a revised Law on Foreigners and a new Law on Asylum, as well as the introduction of a revised National Referral Mechanism in 2023 and increased state support for shelters for victims of trafficking. The authorities have regularly adopted national anti-trafficking action plans which include prevention measures targeting vulnerable groups, including children, Roma and Egyptian communities, migrants and asylum seekers.

The number of formally identified trafficking victims has declined (28 in 2020-2024), in contrast to the increase in the number of presumed victims (700). The high proportion of child victims highlights the urgent need for stronger child protection services and effective prevention measures.

Unaccompanied and separated children, as well as members of marginalised communities, are especially vulnerable to human trafficking and often lack access to appropriate care and protection. In this context, GRETA recommends that the Albanian authorities ensure that unaccompanied children are assigned legal guardians and provided with safe accommodation. It also calls on the authorities to strengthen awareness-raising and outreach work in Roma and Egyptian communities.

Furthermore, GRETA urges the Albanian authorities to ensure that migrant workers enjoy the same rights and protection as Albanian workers, to increase inspections of private employment agencies and sectors at high risk of exploitation, and to further train labour inspectors and other professionals on combating trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

The report highlights that only two trafficking victims have been awarded compensation by courts since 2008. GRETA calls for better access to legal aid for victims of trafficking, stronger enforcement of victims’ right to compensation, and the setting up of a state compensation scheme for victims of trafficking.

In addition, the report recommends expanding digital investigation capacities and engaging with technology providers to address trafficking facilitated through online platforms.

 GRETA and Albania

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 Norway from 2 to 6 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 Norwegian 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 Norway have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with relevant departments and subordinate agencies of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, including the Police Department, the Co-ordinating Unit for Victims of Trafficking (KOM), the Migration Department, the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), the Department of Crime Prevention, the National Police Directorate, the National Criminal Investigation Service (KRIPOS), the National Police Immigration Service (PU), and Oslo Police Department. Meetings were also held with the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion (including the Labour and Welfare Administration, the National Labour Inspection Authority, and the Directorate of Integration and Diversity), the Ministry of Children and Families (including the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs, and the National Guidance Unit for Cases of Trafficking in Children), the Ministry of Health and Care Services (including the Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Centre on Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, and the Øst Regional Resource Centre for Violence, Traumatic Stress and Suicide Prevention), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Oslo, the delegation also met representatives of the Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) and the Human Trafficking Support Oslo.

Furthermore, the GRETA delegation met with the representatives of the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution, which has recently been designated as national rapporteur on human trafficking.

In addition to holding meetings in Oslo, the delegation travelled to Bergen and Trondheim, where it met with representatives of the municipal social, health and child protection services, the anti-trafficking police units of the Vest and Trøndelag Police Districts, the Support Centres for Crime Victims, the regional offices of the Directorate of Immigration, and the inter-agency centre against work-related crimes (A-Krim) in Bergen.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations and trade unions, lawyers representing victims of trafficking, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In the course of the visit, GRETA’s delegation visited two shelters for victims of trafficking run by NGOs in Oslo, the Trandum Police Immigration Detention Centre, and the Vikhammer Asylum Centre in Trondheim.

The visit was carried out by Ms Antoaneta Vassileva, First Vice-President of GRETA, and Mr Thomas Ahlstrand, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Convention, and Ms Ebru Seylan 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 in 2026.

 See also: GRETA and Norway