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Migration and Home Affairs
  • News article
  • 11 December 2024
  • Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs
  • 1 min read

EU Network of National Coordinators and Rapporteurs and EU Civil Society Platform join efforts against trafficking in human beings

THB - networks meeting visual

On 2-3 December, around 140 participants from EU countries, EU Agencies (Europol, Eurojust, EU Asylum Agency, Frontex, eu-Lisa), civil society organisations, international organisations (UNODC, OSCE, UNICEF), Ukraine and Moldova gathered in the meeting of the EU Network of National Coordinators and Rapporteurs and the EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings in Brussels.

The meeting was co-chaired by Diane Schmitt, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and Matyas Hegyaljai from the Ministry of Interior of Hungary, representing the Presidency of the Council.

Commissioner Magnus Brunner during the meeting of networks

The meeting was opened by Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Bence Rétvári, Deputy Minister of Interior of Hungary, Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the LIBE Committee and Oleksii Serhieiev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The recording of the opening session is available. The main focus was the international dimension of trafficking in human beings and the link between trafficking and migration, including migrant smuggling.

According to the latest data from 2022, the majority (63%) of registered victims of trafficking in human beings were non-EU citizens. This is an increase, and a change compared to previous years when majority of detected victims were EU citizens.

Migrants frequently take on substantial debt to pay smugglers to get to the EU, which is leaving them in debt and vulnerable to exploitation. Migrants are also trafficked under the false promise of legitimate labour opportunities and end up being forced into sexual, labour or other forms of exploitation. Traffickers on the other hand make enormous profits from these crimes.

Participants noticed an increase of victims in the EU from Latin America and discussed law enforcement cooperation with the support of Europol and in the context of EMPACT. One session was dedicated to the prevention and protection of people fleeing the military aggression against Ukraine.

The members of EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings also discussed assistance to non-EU victims of trafficking, anti-trafficking and asylum procedures as well as dignified return of non-EU victims of trafficking.

The meeting concluded that trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling are often interconnected crimes that require a coordinated approach and a deep understanding of the complex criminal networks involved. To combat these crimes, cooperation with non-EU countries and with all stakeholders, including civil society organisations, is crucial to strengthen efforts and protect victims of human trafficking.

Details

Publication date
11 December 2024
Author
Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs