The Hungarian authorities should strengthen efforts to prevent child trafficking, particularly by sensitising and training staff working with children and raising awareness of trafficking and online safety among children, including those in residential care institutions, the Council of Europe’s Group of experts against trafficking in human beings (GRETA) says in its latest report.
The report calls on Hungary to repeal legislation that imposes fines, and even prison sentences, for children engaged in prostitution. It calls on police officers to consider 14- to 18-year olds engaged in prostitution as possible trafficking victims – and not as offenders.
GRETA also calls on the Hungarian authorities to better identify potential trafficking victims among migrants and asylum seekers, including in transit zones. Since its last report on Hungary, GRETA welcomes the extension of professional groups that can officially identify victims of trafficking – including victim support services and probation and legal aid services. However, GRETA calls on the Hungarian authorities to take further efforts to proactively identify victims of trafficking, including among migrants and asylum seekers, and to strengthen labour inspections in at-risk sectors.
