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 25 to 28 October 2021 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 authorities of Luxembourg provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA verified how the main recommendations made in its second evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Ms Sam Tanson, Minister of Justice, as well as representatives of the ministries of Justice and Interior Security, the Ministry of Gender Equality, the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth, the Ministry of Labour, Employment ant the Social and Solidarity Economy, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Criminal Investigation Police Department, the Mines and Labour Inspectorate, the National Office for Children, and the National Office for Reception. A meeting was also held with magistrates from the public prosecutor’s offices and a representative of the Victim Support Service (SAV) of the General Prosecutor’s Office.
In addition, consultations were held with Ms Fabienne Rossler, Secretary General of the Advisory Committee on Human Rights (Commission consultative des Droits de l’Homme - CCDH), designated as National Rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, Ms Claudia Monti, the Ombudsperson, and Mr Charles Schmit, the Ombudsman for Children and Young People.
The delegation also met members of the Chamber of Deputies’ Justice Committee, chaired by Mr Charles Margue, and members of the Delegation of the Chamber of Deputies to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, chaired by Mr Gusty Graas.
The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), non-governmental organisations, trade unions, lawyers and victims of human trafficking.
During its visit, the GRETA delegation visited a shelter for male victims of trafficking run by the NGO Caritas as well as a shelter for female victims of trafficking run by the NGO Open Door House Foundation (Fondation Maison de la Porte Ouverte - FMPO). The GRETA delegation also visited the detention centre for foreigners in Findel.
The visit was carried out by Ms Dorothea Winkler and Mr Peter Van Hauwermeiren, members 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 authorities of Luxembourg for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt its final report which will be published at the end of 2022.
