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 June 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 Portuguese authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA verified how the main recommendations made in its second evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with Ms Rosa Monteiro, Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality, Mr Manuel Albano, National Rapporteur for Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as officials from relevant ministries and public bodies, including the Immigration and Border Service (SEF), the Criminal Police (PJ), the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Superior Council of Magistracy, the Commission for the Protection of Victims of Crime (CPVC), the Labour Conditions Authority (ACT), the National Commission for the Promotion of Rights and Protection of Children and Youth (CNPDPCJ), and the High Commission for Migration (ACM). The GRETA delegation also met members of the Portuguese Parliament and Ms Maria Lúcia Amaral, Ombudsperson of Portugal.
The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with the Portuguese National Bar, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lawyers representing victims of human trafficking, and survivors of human trafficking. The GRETA delegation also met officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation travelled to Coimbra and Porto and visited three shelters for victims of human trafficking run by NGOs (respectively, for women and their children, for men and for children), as well as two centres for social reintegration of victims of trafficking. Further, GRETA visited a reception centre for unaccompanied children and another one for adult asylum seekers, both located in Lisbon and operated by NGOs.
The visit was carried out by Ms Julia Planitzer, Second Vice-President of GRETA, and Mr Francesco Curcio, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Convention, and Ms Daniela Ranalli of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Portuguese authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report to be published in early 2022.
