5.5. Identifying and supporting survivors of human trafficking
Combatting trafficking of human beings remained at the forefront of discussions in 2022 as a shift in trafficking patterns was noted.United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2023, January 24). UNODC global report on trafficking in persons: crises shift trafficking patterns and hinder victim identification. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2023/January/unodc-global-report-… The COVID-19 pandemic had spurred exploiters to turn increasingly to online activities, which made it more difficult to identify and protect victims.European Commission. (2022, December 19). Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings. Fourth Report, SWD(2022) 429 final, COM(2022) 736 final. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52022DC07… In addition, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 created waves of displaced persons – notably women and children – who were particularly prone to falling victim to trafficking. Indeed, traffickers began to target new travel routes to recruit victims. See the EUAA’s “Identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking in the asylum procedure, Situational Update No 17” for more detailed developments in 2022.
The EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025 covers various aspects, including prevention, protection, the empowerment of victims and bringing traffickers to justice. One of its key actions includes the evaluation and a possible revision of the Anti-Trafficking Directive. In December 2022, the European Commission proposed to revise the directive, by streamlining structures and procedures in the EU and formalising national referral mechanisms to improve early identification and referral. These would then serve as a basis for developing a European Referral Mechanism (see Section 2).European Commission. (2022, December 19). Trafficking in human beings: Commission proposes stronger rules to fight the evolving crime. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7781
Gaps in data continued to be a challenge, preventing policymakers to have a clear picture of the scope of the situation in the EU. While Eurostat publishes annual statistics on the number of registered victims as reported by EU Member States,European Commission. (2023, February 9). Trafficking victims in Europe, a rise by 10% and the share of EU nationals among the victims increased to 59%. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/trafficking-victims-europe-rise-… not all countries report data, they may use different reporting approaches or different levels of transposition of the Anti-Trafficking Directive.Eurostat. (2023, February 9). Victims of trafficking of human beings up 10% in 2021. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20230208… The revisions of the directive propose to address the lack of data on human trafficking by formalising a reliable EU-wide data collection which would be conducted and published by Eurostat.European Commission. (2022, December 19). Questions and Answers - Trends, challenges and revision of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_7780 During 2023, the European Parliament and the Council will examine this proposal, and once approved, the new rules will have to be transposed by Member States into their national laws.European Commission. (2022, December 19). Trafficking in human beings: Commission proposes stronger rules to fight the evolving crime. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7781
Enhanced cooperation plays a crucial role in combatting trafficking. In this context, the European Commission and Morocco renewed their operational partnership, which involves border management support and awareness-raising on the dangers of unlawful migration to tackle human trafficking.European Commission. (2022, July 8). Joint press release: European Commission and Morocco launch renewed partnership on migration and tackling human smuggling networks. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_4388
The Council of Europe’s GRETA published various reports during 2022, namely on France,Groups of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, February 18). Evaluation Report France: Third evaluation round. Access to justice and effective remedies for victims of trafficking in human beings. https://rm.coe.int/evaluation-report-france-third-evaluation-round/1680… Luxembourg,Council of Europe, Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, October 4). GRETA publishes its third report on Luxembourg. Ireland,Council of Europe, Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, September 28). GRETA publishes its third report on Ireland. Latvia,Council of Europe, Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, February 21). GRETA publishes its third report on Latvia. Norway,Council of Europe, Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, June 8). GRETA publishes its third report on Norway. PortugalCouncil of Europe, Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2022, June 13). GRETA publishes its third report on Portugal. and Belgium.Council of Europe, Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (2022, October 20). GRETA publishes its third report on Belgium. Overall, the reports call for additional efforts to identify victims and provide assistance.
The European Migration Network (EMN) published a study in March 2022 which maps national practices in detection, identification and protection of third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings. National reports for 18 Member States for 2021 were subsequently released throughout 2022.European Migration Network. (March 2022). Third-country national victims of trafficking in human beings: detection, identification and protection. https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-04/EMN_report2022_t…
