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Back GRETA calls on states, civil society and tech companies to counter the use of technology to recruit and control victims of human trafficking

GRETA calls on states, civil society and tech companies to counter the use of technology to recruit and control victims of human trafficking

On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, held every year on 30 July, 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 on State Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings to counter the increasing use of technology to recruit, advertise and exploit victims of human trafficking, and to harness the great potential that technology can have in countering this crime.

GRETA President Helga Gayer said: “Countries monitored by GRETA have reported an increased use of the Internet and mobile phones for recruiting and controlling victims of trafficking. Building knowledge and capacity of law enforcement officials, labour inspectors, prosecutors and judges, and enabling cooperation at all levels, is a crucial part of the response to cyber-trafficking.”

In March this year, GRETA released a report detailing strategies, tools and good practices for overcoming existing challenges and boosting responses to online and ICT-facilitated human trafficking. The report provides evidence-based recommendations on how to enhance the detection, investigation and prosecution of technology-facilitated trafficking, co-operation with private companies, and international co-operation.

The challenges posed by technology on the investigation of human trafficking cases include data encryption, large volume of data, lack of technical equipment and training, and inadequate legislative tools. This calls for investment in capacity building of law enforcement officials in the areas of Internet monitoring, cyber-patrols, undercover online investigations, and the use of Open-Source Intelligence, social network analysis and automatic searching tools to analyse evidence.

At the same time, the Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Cybercrime (Budapest) Convention, opened for signature in May 2022, provides new tools for enhanced co-operation and a framework for obtaining electronic evidence more effectively.

Co-operation with private companies is crucial for combating trafficking in human beings, and should involve the development of co-operation protocols and data-sharing procedures for requesting evidence and taking down content related to human trafficking.

“Technology-based policies to combat human trafficking need to be designed and applied with careful consideration for human rights, including the rights to privacy, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination,” added GRETA’s President. “The best interests of victims should be at the heart of any action.”

 ICAT Statement: World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2022

 Commissioner for Human Rights Statement: In times of crises, states should step up their efforts to prevent human trafficking and protect victims

 Council of Europe: Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

 United Nations: Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT)

Strasbourg, France 29 JULY 2022
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What is cyberviolence against children?

Cyberviolence against children

The Internet exposes children to a wealth of opportunities, but also risks that may have a detrimental impact on their human rights. Some of these risks include, but are not limited to:

 

online child sexual exploitation and abuse 

online grooming

cyberbullying

online stalking

What can we do?

Given the complexity of this phenomenon, countries need to have a multidisciplinary approach.

 The first step of this process is to harmonise national legislation with the international standards of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) and the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).

 However, legislation is not enough, and criminal justice authorities require additional capacities, especially law enforcement and the judiciary. The main challenges they face are posed by new technologies, collection of electronic evidence and international cooperation.

 In this regard, the Council of Europe implements a number of capacity building projects aiming to address this challenge:

What are the Council of Europe instruments?

Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)

One of the aims of the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (also known as the "Budapest Convention")  is to modernise criminal law provisions to prevent computer systems from being used to facilitate sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The Convention seeks to strengthen protective measures for children against sexual exploitation, by criminalizing various aspects of electronic production, possession and distribution of child pornography (Article 9).

Furthermore, the Convention introduces procedural law measures and sets up a fast and effective regime of international cooperation to enable investigation of offences related to cyberviolence, allowing for preservation and collection of electronic evidence.

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)

The Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, also known as “the Lanzarote Convention”, is a human rights treaty specifically dedicated to preventing and responding to all forms of sexual violence against children.

By putting children’s rights at its heart, it adopts a victim-centred approach with far reaching provisions that improve systems and services, therefore helping States to fight against all forms of violence against children.

Interpretative Opinion on the applicability of the Lanzarote Convention to sexual offences against children facilitated through the use of information and communication technologies

As information and communication technologies (ICTs) have created new means for sexual offenders to target and harm children, means which were not known to the same extent as today at the time of adoption of the Lanzarote Convention, the Lanzarote Committee released an Interpretative Opinion on the applicability of the Lanzarote Convention to sexual offences against children facilitated through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) (12 May 2017). 

 

Synergies between the Budapest and Lanzarote Conventions

Both the Budapest and Lanzarote Conventions are open to accession by any country in the world, inspiring legislation and policies in all regions, helping countries and organisations to deliver on their commitment towards the UN SDGs.

While the Lanzarote Convention sets the ground for criminalizing sexual abuse and exploitation offences, the Budapest Convention provides the relevant procedural framework for investigations, collection of electronic evidence and international cooperation.

Statistics

 Statistics 

 

Globally, 1 in 5 girls
and 1 in 13 boys

have been sexually exploited or abused
before reaching the age of 18

*United Nations Children’s Fund (2021): Ending online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Lessons learned and promising practices in low- and middle-income countries, UNICEF, New York

In 2021, 7 in 10 of the reports assessed by the Internet Watch Foundation
 contained online imagery of children being sexually abused
97% of the identified child sexual abuse material showed girls

* Internet Watch Foundation (2021): Annual Report

68% of the reports assessed by Internet Watch Foundation in 2021
contained online imagery of children aged 11 to 13

* Internet Watch Foundation (2021): Annual Report

Initiatives on Cyberviolence against children
education and prevention
 "VAC Clearinghouse” – an online platform set up by the Council of Europe meant to facilitate access to various resources on violence against children with a view to support all stakeholders and partners involved in developing effective responses.