Providing cities and regions with the means to combat ‘modern slavery’ in Europe is a key issue for the Congress, which on 26 March 2025, at its 48th session, unanimously adopted a resolution and a recommendation aimed at improving the identification of victims and the eradication of practices of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.
Presented by co-rapporteurs Cecilia Dalman Eek (Sweden, SOC/G/DP) and Martine Dieschburg Nickels (Luxembourg, ILDG), the Congress report emphasises the active involvement of local and regional authorities in a multi-level and multidisciplinary approach that provides for locally and regionally trained referents and also involves NGOs. The Congress asks the Committee of Ministers to invite the respective national authorities of the Council of Europe member states to develop national strategies to combat trafficking in human beings in consultation with local and regional authorities and their associations, present in the field. Data collection should not only serve to detect and prosecute criminal practices, but also to prevent them. Specialised support for victims and assistance for vulnerable populations also requires the allocation of specific resources at the local level.
Indeed, the effectiveness of this approach was confirmed by Venla Roth, coordinator of the fight against human trafficking at the Ministry of Justice in Finland. She shared with the Congress the positive experience of her country, which made the fight against human trafficking a national priority in 2019. She, like other participants in the debate, highlighted the complexity of this phenomenon, which requires flexible but determined responses. Allowing victims of trafficking to report these practices and to seek more decent employment, while keeping their residence permits, would also be a response that member states could provide to enable victims to escape their situation of exploitation.
Finally, the youth delegates played a very active part in the discussion. Among other things, they proposed ethical certification for companies and raising awareness among residents of the problems of trafficking, sometimes directly related to the services provided to individuals in their daily lives.
See also: Local and regional elected representatives, allies in the fight against human trafficking
Mediabox interview with Cecilia Dalman Eek and Martine Dieschburg Nickels
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