Poland

General information: situation on trafficking in human beings

Due to its geographical location, Poland is simultaneously a country of origin, transit, and destination for victims of human trafficking. Armed conflicts and resulting migration movements significantly escalate human trafficking risks both within and outside conflict zones. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Poland welcomed the largest share of refugees - the vast majority of this population consists of women and children, who represent a vulnerable group most at risk of exploitation in prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation.

These sudden migration movements have created unprecedented challenges for Polish law enforcement and judicial authorities in their efforts to stop and fight human trafficking. To tackle this evolving threat, Poland implements comprehensive measures focusing on the efficient identification of potential victims, continuous monitoring of trafficking trends, specialized training programs, and necessary legal reforms.

Latest trends

Currently, the most frequently identified form of exploitation in human trafficking in Poland is forced labour and services, which differs from the European Union average where sexual exploitation is slightly more common. This form of exploitation affects both Polish citizens and foreign nationals.

Over the past several years, Polish authorities have recorded a steady flow of forced labour victims from Latin American countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. These individuals are frequently recruited by dishonest employment agencies through the internet and social media. Even with the introduction of visa requirements for employment-seeking Colombian citizens, the trend of exploitation persists, with regulations occasionally circumvented through tourist or educational entries.

There has also been a noticeable rise in identifying victims of human trafficking for forced labour originating from Central Asian nations such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Victims of forced labour are most frequently exploited in industries requiring intensive manual or logistical work, primarily including meat processing, agriculture and vegetable cultivation, sawmills, clothing sorting, construction, and transport.

Institutional, legal and policy framework to address trafficking in human beings

The Inter-Ministerial Team for Countering Trafficking in Human Beings

The primary body responsible for shaping Poland's anti-trafficking strategy and coordinating victim support and protection is the Inter-Ministerial Team for Countering Trafficking in Human Beings. Operating as an advisory body to the Prime Minister, the Team brings together representatives from central government offices, law enforcement agencies, state institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

The Team's main tasks include:

• Evaluating the implementation of programs aimed at preventing and combating human trafficking;
• Providing advisory support on actions taken to prevent and combat human trafficking;
• Preparing drafts of the National Action Plans against Human Trafficking, monitoring the implementation of planned tasks, and developing annual reports on the implementation of the National Action Plan.

The high rank of the Team strengthens national coordination by shortening the decision-making process in the area of anti-trafficking, increasing management flexibility, and boosting the efficiency of implemented activities. Furthermore, it improves information sharing between ministries involved in the fight against human trafficking and reinforces the Team's role as a platform for cooperation between state administration and non-governmental organizations.

There are two permanent working groups within the Team: the Working Group for Monitoring the Implementation of the National Action Plan and the Working Group for Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking as well as ad hoc working groups dedicated to specific legislative and strategic tasks

Ministry of the Interior and Administration

The Ministry of the Interior and Administration serves as the secretariat of the above-mentioned Inter-Ministerial Team for Countering Trafficking in Human Beings. Moreover, in the Ministry operates Unit for Combating THB, Hate Crimes and for Supporting Actions in the area of EU Internal Security Policy reporting directly to the Director of the Department for Public Order. The main tasks of the above-mentioned unit are: coordination and monitoring of anti-trafficking work undertaken by institutions and organisations involved in the fight against trafficking in human beings in Poland; coordination of the international cooperation in the field of counteracting of trafficking in human beings.

National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings

The National Action Plan is a strategic document that outlines the direction of state policy in the area of ​​counteracting human trafficking. It defines the responsibilities of both central institutions – responsible for developing legal regulations and standards – and local units, including the Provincial Teams for Combating Human Trafficking, which play a key role in implementing actions at the local level.

It is a government document adopted by the Council of Ministers, which obliges its addressees to perform certain tasks in order to counteract human trafficking. The addressees of NAP are individual units of the central administration and other institutions and NGOs that are voluntarily involved in anti-human trafficking activities in Poland. NAP’s mail goal is to provide conditions necessary to effectively counter human trafficking in Poland and support the victims of this crime. In this context, the detailed objectives of the NAP are as follows:

• to raise the awareness of the problem of human trafficking; 
• to raise the standards of support provided to the victims of human trafficking (including minor victims of human trafficking); 
• to improve the effectiveness of the institutions responsible for prosecuting the crime of human trafficking by improving the legal tools and the structures, and implementing best practices; 
• to improve the skills of the representatives of institutions and organizations involved in counteracting human trafficking and supporting victims of this crime; 
• to extend the knowledge of the problem of human trafficking and to improve the effectiveness of the actions taken; 
• to strengthen international cooperation. 

The current National Action Plan, in addition to continuing existing initiatives, introduced significant solutions tailored to contemporary challenges. These include:

• Expanding training programs to include new professional groups, including crisis intervention centre staff, prison officers, emergency call centre operators, and staff of non-governmental organizations supporting migrants;
• Increasing emphasis on education and prevention among youth and the pedagogical and psychological community, in response to the increased activity of children and young people on social media, which perpetrators use to recruit victims;
• Strengthening activities targeted at job seekers, particularly foreigners and those in difficult economic circumstances – which is crucial given that forced labour is currently the dominant form of exploitation in Poland.

Regional level 

Voivodeship Teams for Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings

A notable advantage for Poland - setting it apart from other EU countries - is the establishment of Voivodeship Teams for Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings in 2015 on the basis of Article 22 point 15 of the Act of 12 March 2004 on Social Assistance and Articles 17 and 18 § 2 of the Act of 23 January 2009 on the Governor and Government Administration. These teams serve as a regional reflection of the national Inter-ministerial Team, operating at the local level.

The Voivodeship Teams bring together representatives from regional public institutions, law enforcement agencies, and NGOs, with specific membership determined by each Voivode. Their composition typically includes staff from Voivodeship offices, the Police, the Border Guard, prosecutor’s offices, labour inspections, employment offices, local governments, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. The teams are highly active and carry out a wide range of preventive measures. To support these efforts, in 2024 the Ministry of the Interior and Administration established a shared digital platform for information sharing and educational tools. 

Support for victims of human trafficking

National Consulting and Intervention Centre for the Victims of Trafficking (KCIK)

The system of supporting and protection for victims of trafficking in human beings in Poland came into force at the beginning of 2006. Since then the system has been improved and developed. The main objective of the system is to identify victims and to refer them to the proper institutions for assistance and support. Nowadays the National Consulting and Intervention Centre for the Victims of Trafficking (KCIK), which was established in 2009, serves as the main centre for intervention and support. The Centre is fully financed by the budget of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

In particular, KCIK provides:

• 24/7/365  helpline
• intervention assistance such as accommodation, food, psychological support, medical assistance
• two safe locations (shelters) for female victims of THB and one for men
• interpreting services and the presence of an interpreter if needed
• legal consultations
• consultations and support for the institutions and organizations dealing with the victims of THB

Poland is fully committed to ensuring proper support for victims. In response to the migration crisis, the emerging threats posed by Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the heightened risk of refugees being targeted by human traffickers, funding for the National Consulting and Intervention Centre for the Victims of Human Trafficking has been nearly doubled over the past few years (increasing from an initial baseline to 1,500,000 PLN in 2023, and further scaled up to 2,000,000 PLN in 2026).

National Referral Mechanism 

In April 2024, the Inter-Ministerial Team for Countering Trafficking in Human Beings adopted a newly developed National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to serve as the country's official framework for identifying, referring, and supporting victims of modern slavery. Acting as a strategic instrument, the NRM establishes a solid foundation for cooperation among all stakeholders involved in the fight against human trafficking. It precisely outlines victim identification criteria and pre-trial procedures, thereby improving the detection and prosecution of related offenses. Built on systematic collabouration between government bodies, law enforcement, prosecutors, care institutions, and NGOs, the complete document is publicly available in both Polish and English on the official national anti-trafficking website.

Upcoming legislative changes

An important step in the improvement of anti-trafficking policy was the establishment, in November 2024, of a dedicated interdisciplinary working group within the Inter-Ministerial Team for Countering Trafficking in Human Beings. Bringing together experts, government representatives, and NGOs, this group was tasked with drafting a comprehensive law to systematically and holistically regulate state actions in this area—a legislative effort that goes hand in hand with Poland's work to implement Directive (EU) 2024/1712 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which amends Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. The draft act is now complete, and the new law is expected to enter into force in 2027.

Cross-border cooperation to address trafficking in human beings

Human trafficking is a cross-border crime where international cooperation plays a crucial role. As a country of transit, origin, and destination for victims of human trafficking, Poland continuously undertakes and participates in numerous activities and initiatives aimed at strengthening international efforts to combat this crime. Poland has signed a number of bilateral agreements on law enforcement cooperation. These agreements allow the exchange of operational information with EU countries, as well as with third countries. Operational information is also exchanged with EUROPOL (via SIENA channel) and with INTERPOL through the Bureau for International Police Cooperation of the National Police Headquarters.

Key Areas of International Engagement:

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS): Poland assumed the annual rotating presidency on July 1, driving regional anti-trafficking efforts through the TF-THB task force. Major highlights included high-level policy discussions in Warsaw, specialized workshops on utilizing the CBSS diplomatic handbook for victim protection, expert meetings addressing forced labour and trauma-informed child care, and active Polish representation at the international THBxOC 2025 forum in Stockholm focusing on organized crime links.

European Union: Poland maintained a prominent role during its Council Presidency and beyond, co-chairing meetings of the EU Network of National Rapporteurs and Equivalent Mechanisms (NACR EU), contributing to vital Council Conclusions focused on protecting minors and refugees amid the war in Ukraine, and partnering closely with the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator.

Law Enforcement & EMPACT Operations: Through Europol channels (SIENA) and international frameworks, the Polish Police and Border Guard exchanged over 1,000 intelligence items and participated extensively in EMPACT operational plans. Poland co-led major joint action days (JAD), including JAD Global Chain and JAD Labour Exploitation, and helped establish cross-border joint investigation teams (JIT) to dismantle transnational criminal networks.

Council of Europe & OSCE: Poland actively engaged with GRETA regarding the implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (hosting evaluation roundtables and high-level bilateral meetings), and partnered with the OSCE and ODIHR on capacity-building and simulation trainings for border guards, labour inspectors, and social workers.

United Nations & International Partnerships: Poland collaborated closely with UN bodies (UNODC, SRSG VAC) on child protection frameworks and transnational investigations (including Latin American labour exploitation networks). Furthermore, structured cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw reinforced national reporting standards, keeping Poland firmly in Tier 1 of the U.S. Trafficking in Persons report.