Newsroom - Online trafficking in human beings
Statement by Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset and message from the President of GREVIO, Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou
European Anti-Trafficking Day: Human trafficking is not only a grave violation of human rights but also a threat to democracy itself
On 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...
GRETA 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
On the eve of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons (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 upon States and relevant stakeholders to...
High-Level Conference in Malta puts AI at the centre of anti-trafficking strategies
A high-level conference “Empowering change: technology and artificial intelligence in the fight against human trafficking” took place today in Malta, under the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The event brought together experts, policymakers, civil...
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
Twenty years ago, the Council of Europe made history. On 16 May 2005, at the Warsaw Summit of Heads of State and Government, it opened for signature the first international treaty to place the protection of the rights of victims at the heart of the fight against human trafficking. Fourteen...
Statement from the Secretary General on European Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October
In 2024, armed conflict and humanitarian crises are intensifying, with ongoing violence in Ukraine and the Middle East. Migrants and asylum seekers, especially those traveling under unsafe conditions, always increase in number during such conflicts. They are particularly exposed to trafficking...
Online course on combating trafficking in human beings: a new edition available on the Council of Europe HELP e-learning platform
A new edition of the online training course on combating trafficking in human beings has been published by the Council of Europe's European Human Rights Training Programme for Legal Professionals (HELP). The course is tailored to meet the learning needs of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, law...
Fourth round of evaluation of Council of Europe's Anti-Trafficking Convention: vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent and detect them, including a focus on the online dimension
The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA*) has taken stock today of its 15 years of monitoring the implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, on the occasion of its 50th plenary meeting. Its latest publication on “The practical impact of...
European Court of Human Rights judgement on online job advertisment and trafficking in human beings
On 12 December 2023, a judgement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) based in Strasbourg was prepared and published in the HUDOC database, concerning the case of Jasuitis and Simaitis v. Lithuania. The case concerned the applicants’ conviction for trafficking in human beings. On an...
World Day against Trafficking in Persons: the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and its Second Additional Protocol provide effective tools for investigating and prosecuting this international crime
30 July marks the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. In a statement released ahead of this International Day, the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) highlighted the need to address the vulnerability of targets to trafficking in persons, to ensure...
European Anti-Trafficking Day: States must urgently tackle human trafficking for labour exploitation
On the occaision of European Anti-Trafficking Day, tihe Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has stressed the urgency of tackling the growing menace of trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. Helga Gayer, President of GRETA, said:...