At its 48th meeting on 30 June 2023, GRETA adopted the questionnaire for the fourth round of evaluation of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

GRETA decided that the fourth evaluation round of the Convention will focus on vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent them, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. This includes a focus on the use of information and communication technology, which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.

In addition to the thematic focus on vulnerabilities to human trafficking, GRETA decided that each State Party will receive country-specific follow-up questions related to recommendations not implemented or partially implemented after the third evaluation round.

Multiple crises, conflicts and the climate emergency increase vulnerabilities to human trafficking and diversify trafficking risks, which is why governments and other stakeholders must allocate adequate attention and resources to combating it. This is the message from the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), in a statement published on the eve of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, and echoed by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).

In a new report, the GRETA assessed developments as regards the implementation of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. According to the report, progress had been made in certain areas, however, GRETA calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to take steps to improve victims’ access to legal aid and the existing compensation mechanisms and to strengthen effective access to the labour market for victims of human trafficking and to advance their socio-economic inclusion.

The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged Estonia to strengthen its efforts to prevent and combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation and improve the identification of victims. These are among the main proposals for action included in GRETA’s latest report evaluating Estonia’s implementation of the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking Convention. 

According to GRETA’s third report on Poland, progress has been made in some areas, including legislative changes and increased funding for victim assistance. However, a number of challenges remain. GRETA has urged the Polish authorities to take further action against human trafficking, notably by effectively preventing and combating trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation and improving the criminal justice response.

In its new report evaluating Spain’s implementation of the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking Convention, particularly the access of victims to justice and effective remedies, GRETA welcomes progress in the legal framework and policies but also identifies several shortcomings which need to be addressed. GRETA has urged the Spanish authorities to guarantee effective access to compensation to victims of human trafficking and to increase proactive investigations into trafficking for labour exploitation.

In a new report, the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking group GRETA calls on the Slovenian authorities to improve trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies, and to strengthen the identification of victims of trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation and amongst asylum seekers. This third report on Slovenia’s implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings focuses on access to justice and effective remedies for victims of trafficking in human beings.

Over the past five years, several legislative changes relevant for combatting trafficking in human beings were adopted in Serbia. However, further steps are needed to ensure effective access of victims to justice and effective remedies, said GRETA. Its new report welcomes the steps taken by the Serbian authorities to further develop the anti-trafficking legislative framework. However, the report stresses that further steps are needed to ensure better access of victims of trafficking to justice, effective remedies, and to compensation.

A delegation of the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Monaco from 5 to 7 July 2023 as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met with the Ministry of External Relations and Cooperation, the Department of Public Safety (police) and with representatives of several state departments and the judiciary.
It further visited the Foyer de l'Enfance Princesse Charlène and emergency social accommodations for victims of trafficking.