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

120 representatives and experts from EU Member States and Civil Society Organisations participated in the joint meeting of the EU Network of National Rapporteurs and Equivalent Mechanisms and the EU Civil Society Platform on 7 November in Brussels. The meeting focused on the online dimension of trafficking in human beings.

Technology has become an indispensable and valuable element of our daily lives. But its increasing reach can also lead to its misuse by criminal networks. Traffickers have found a way to adapt their business model using the tools offered by digitalisation and take advantage of new technologies throughout all phases of human trafficking. The digital dimension of trafficking in human beings has become one of the major challenges for combatting this crime. It does not only make detection and the identification of the victims more difficult, but their protection and assistance too. On the other hand, the online dimension of this crime creates new opportunities for law enforcement and judicial authorities, in relation to investigations and evidence collection.

The meeting was co-chaired by Diane Schmitt, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, and the Spanish Presidency of the Council.

Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Rafael Pérez Ruiz, Secretary of State for Security of Spain, and Malin Björk, Member of the European Parliament, delivered the keynote speeches of the opening session.

The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to exchange on the challenges, the opportunities and the actions needed to tackle the digital dimension of trafficking in human beings. The discussion highlighted the importance of:

• having a solid understanding of what the online environment;
• having an adequate legal framework;
• enhancing digital capabilities (including through training and adequate resources);
• reinforcing cooperation with online platforms;
• ensuring efficient cross border cooperation.

The joint meeting was also an opportunity to present the awareness raising campaign the European Commission launched on 18 October 2023.

The progress on the implementation of the EU Strategy on combatting trafficking in human beings (2021-2025) was also discussed in separate meetings with both networks. The focus of this discussion were the three main areas of action:

1. prevention and demand reduction
2. cooperation between civil society organisations, law enforcement and judicial authorities
3. protection and support to victims.

Find out more

Together against trafficking in human beings

EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator

Legal and policy framework

EU Anti-Trafficking Day

Focus Group of specialised prosecutors against human trafficking