On 20 January, the European Commission published its fifth report on the progress made in the EU in combatting Trafficking in Human Beings. The report outlines the main anti-trafficking actions from 2021 to 2024 and provides an analysis of statistics for the period of 2021-2022. The report, published every two years, is coordinated by the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and is based on contributions from EU countries, EU Agencies and members of the EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings.
The report shows that the EU has reinforced its fight against trafficking, delivering on the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021-2025). During the period between 2021 and 2022, the number of registered victims has increased by 20,5%, with the majority of victims being non-EU citizens (54%). This increase can be linked to better detection of victims. Despite the progress in the legal, policy and operational framework, several challenges persist, including low numbers of prosecutions and convictions, difficulties in collecting evidence and the growing online presence of victims and traffickers. New challenges emerge, including new forms of exploitation and the link with high level criminal organisations.
Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation continued to be the most prevalent form of exploitation in the EU during 2021-2022, with 49% of victims, of which 92% were women and girls. The number of victims of labour exploitation increased by 51% compared to the previous period with 70% of the victims being male. Child trafficking, which represents 19% of all victims of trafficking in the EU, remains a grave form of human exploitation. Compared to the previous report, the number of child victims declined by 3%. Other forms of exploitation, such as forced criminality and forced begging, accounts 14% of all victims.
Since 2011, the Anti-Trafficking Directive has been the foundation of EU efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings. A revision of this Directive was adopted and entered into force in July 2024. The revised Directive introduces stronger rules to fight trafficking in human beings. It provides tools for public authorities to investigate and prosecute trafficking offences as well as better support to victims. It emphasises child protection and includes online sexual exploitation as an aggravating circumstance. Moreover, the knowing use of services provided by trafficking victims will become a criminal offence, with the aim of reducing the demand that fosters trafficking.
Building on the current Strategy, a new EU Strategy on combatting trafficking in human beings will contribute to addressing emerging challenges beyond 2025. This new Strategy will be the counterpart at EU level of the National anti-trafficking Plans that EU countries have to adopt by 15 July 2028 in line with the revised Directive.
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Details
- Publication date
- 20 January 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs