GRETA’s third report on Liechtenstein focuses on access to justice and effective remedies for victims of human trafficking. It emphasizes the need for better access to justice for trafficking victims, including providing legal assistance at an early stage and ensuring victims are informed of their rights.

While nine presumed victims of trafficking were detected by the police in 2018-2023, none were formally identified as victims. GRETA urges the Liechtenstein authorities to ensure that, in practice, the identification of victims of trafficking is not linked to the prospects of a successful investigation and prosecution.

GRETA also highlights the need for improved investigations and prosecutions which do not rely mainly on the testimony of victims.

GRETA’s latest report on Austria, covering the period 2020-2024, evaluates the measures taken to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking in human beings, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. GRETA praises the country’s efforts to combat human trafficking but raises concerns in key areas.

In particular, GRETA urges the authorities to ensure that all unaccompanied and separated children are placed in safe and appropriate accommodation, with adequately trained staff, and are appointed legal guardians as expeditiously as possible.

The report also stresses the need for a National Referral Mechanism for victim identification.

In its latest report on the Slovak Republic, GRETA acknowledges progress in combating trafficking in human beings but urges the authorities to prevent trafficking of vulnerable children, including Roma children and children in residential care, to identify victims of trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, and to effectively punish the offenders.

GRETA welcomes that the country has expanded its legislative framework to enhance action against human trafficking. In addition, the National Programme for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (2024-2028) prioritises early victim identification, access to services, and improvements to the criminal justice process.

GRETA’s report on Cyprus acknowledges progress in some areas, including the establishment of an anti-trafficking unit within the Social Welfare Services and the increase in the staff of the Police Office for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. The National Referral Mechanism has led to an increase in the detection of presumed victims of trafficking, in particular amongst asylum seekers.

On the other hand, the number of formally identified victims of trafficking has decreased (110 over the period 2020 - August 2024). The report stresses the need for more proactive victim identification, ensuring that formal victim recognition is not contingent on the possibility of prosecution.

A delegation of GRETA carried out an evaluation visit to Latvia from 7 to 11 April 2025, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

In addition to the thematic focus of the fourth evaluation on vulnerabilities to human trafficking, GRETA reviewed the implementation of recommendations from its third evaluation round report on Latvia. The GRETA delegation met with officials from relevant ministries and agencies, NGOs, trade unions and international organisations.

A delegation of GRETA carried out an evaluation visit to Armenia from 14 to 18 April 2025, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

In addition to the thematic focus of the fourth evaluation on vulnerabilities to human trafficking, GRETA reviewed the  implementation of recommendations from its third evaluation report on Armenia.  Meetings were held with government officials, NGOs and international organisations.

Some 40 representatives of government departments, agencies, civil society and international organisations met in Warsaw on 28 February 2025 to discuss the implementation of the recommendations from GRETA’s third evaluation report on Poland and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation.

Some 30 representatives of government agencies, public bodies and civil society met in Belgrade on 10 April 2025 to discuss the implementation of the recommendations from the third evaluation report prepared by GRETA and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation.

Some 20 representatives of government agencies, public bodies and civil society met in Baku on 24 April to discuss  the  implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, on the basis of the third evaluation report issued by GRETA and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation.

Some 40 lawyers from different countries, members of the Council of Europe Network of specialised lawyers and NGOs providing legal assistance to victims of trafficking in human beings, joined a webinar on 13 March 2025 to discuss recent developments in the European Court of Human Rights case-law on trafficking in human beings.

Three new judgments were discussed: B.B. v. Slovakia, I.C. v. the Republic of Moldova and F.M. and Others v. Russia.

On the occasion of the 25th OSCE Alliance against Trafficking in Persons conference, the Council of Europe organised a side-event, in Vienna, on 1 April 2025, on preventing trafficking and online exploitation among displaced children of Ukraine.

The event examined how the Council of Europe standards can be applied to protect children from human trafficking and online exploitation. It highlighted existing tools and support mechanisms designed to prevent further victimisation through information and communication technologies.