Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye (Horizontal Facility III)

Back Victims of trafficking forced to commit crimes must be protected, not punished

Irena BABUSHKOVSKA

Modified 27 Days ago.

Council of Europe anti-trafficking expert group GRETA joins ICAT’s call

Victims of trafficking forced to commit crimes must be protected, not punished

On the occasion of World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the call issued today by the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) on States and relevant stakeholders to address the growing menace of trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality.

According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024, trafficking for forced criminality is the third most commonly detected form of trafficking in persons globally. GRETA’s latest annual report highlights that this form of trafficking is increasing in many State Parties to the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings and requires urgent action to protect the victims from criminal groups that exploit their vulnerabilities and prevent their criminalisation.

"The non-punishment principle must be at the heart of the response. Enshrined in the Council of Europe Convention, this principle requires State Parties to provide for the possibility of not imposing penalties on trafficking victims for their involvement in unlawful activities, to the extent that they were compelled to do so," stated GRETA’s President Conny Rijken. "In this regard, GRETA welcomes the resolution on countering trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality adopted last month at the United Nations, which calls upon states to adopt measures specifically addressing this form of trafficking and to ensure that victims are not prosecuted or punished for unlawful acts committed as a direct consequence of being trafficked”.

GRETA fully supports ICAT’s call, which reflects the recommendations made by GRETA during its evaluations of the Convention’s implementation by State Parties. These include strengthening prevention efforts; improving data collection and research; enhancing efforts to identify victims earlier in the process; and adopting legal provisions and guidance to guarantee the effective application of the non-punishment principle. Further, ICAT calls on States to strengthen intelligence-led and well-coordinated criminal justice responses to ensure the effective prosecution of traffickers.

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The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is responsible for evaluating compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the States Parties. It is the only independent group of experts to monitor the implementation of binding international legal provisions in this field. The Convention entered into force in 2008 and has been ratified by all 46 member States of the Council of Europe, as well as two non-member States, Belarus and Israel.

The Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) is a UN policy forum mandated by the General Assembly resolution 61/180 to improve coordination and cooperation among UN agencies and other relevant international organisations to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including protection and support for victims and survivors. Since 2018, the Council of Europe has been a partner of ICAT.

GRETA Strasbourg, France 30 July 2026

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What is the Horizontal Facility?

The joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative and one of the results of the Statement of Intent signed on 1 April 2014 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, in which both Organisations agreed to further strengthen their co-operation in key areas of joint interest.

The programme is ongoing since 2016 and the third phase begun in January 2023 for a period of 48 months. The third phase of the programme (worth €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE) keeps building on the results of the previous phases and it combines Beneficiary-specific and regional actions.

It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

Themes covered by the Horizontal Facility include:

strengthening justice
fighting corruption, economic crime and money laundering
promoting anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (including LGBTI, minorities and Roma) and
promoting and protecting freedom of expression and media

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism that provides legislative expertise and policy advice within the Council of Europe system remains also an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.

The Horizontal Facility relies on the Council of Europe’s unique working methods, whereby tailor-made technical co-operation activities are based on conclusions and recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies highlight areas where improvements are needed in legislation and policies of the Beneficiaries to comply with the Organisation’s treaties and other standards.