Publication date: 21 October 2015
In its annual report on trafficking and smuggling of human beings, Myria provides qualitative and quantitative data on these phenomena as well as a judicial analysis and recommendations. The 2015 report focuses in particular on victims of early or forced marriages and on victims of loverboys.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: human smuggling, human trafficking, national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, victims of human trafficking
Publication date: 04 December 2014
This annual report on Human Trafficking, produced by the Federal Migration Centre, provides qualitative and quantitative data on victims of human trafficking as well as judicial analysis and recommendations to the new government.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: human smuggling, human trafficking, national referral mechanism, victims of human trafficking
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Belgium’s new Criminal Code enters into force on 1 September 2026. Among its provisions relevant to migration, Articles 258 to 264 set out rules on human trafficking and human smuggling, including their definitions, aggravated forms, penalties and specific provisions concerning victims.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Belgium, Criminal code, human trafficking, human smuggling, criminal offence, penalty
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The Ghent division of the East Flanders Court of First Instance has convicted 33 defendants in the Lotus case for human trafficking with aggravating circumstances and leadership or participation in a criminal organisation. The organisation recruited more than 100 financially vulnerable Chinese women and exploited them in prostitution in Belgium and other European countries. Four defendants were also convicted of human trafficking resulting in the death of a victim. Prison sentences of up to seven years, fines and confiscation orders were imposed.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, criminal organisation, sexual exploitation, prostitution, Chinese nationals
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On World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joined the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) in calling for victims of trafficking who are forced to commit crimes to be protected rather than punished. The two bodies highlight the growing prevalence of trafficking for forced criminality, particularly in scam operations, and call for stronger measures to identify and protect victims.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, forced criminality, victim protection, non-punishment principle
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Belgium has contributed to Operation Global Chain 2026, a large-scale international law enforcement operation targeting human trafficking networks. Coordinated across 59 countries, the operation took place from 8 to 12 June 2026 and focused on trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging, with a particular focus on underage victims. In Belgium, a police operation in Charleroi and Verviers led to the dismantling of a trafficking network and the identification of 22 minor victims.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, Operation Global Chain, sexual exploitation, forced criminality, forced begging, underage victim
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This conference will address the pressing issue of human trafficking affecting young people in Belgium, including sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and economic exploitation. It will bring together international experts, as well as Minister Yves Coppieters, responsible for Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities, to discuss the current situation, share experiences, and highlight effective measures to protect youth. The Samilia Prize will be presented later in the evening.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, awareness-raising, young people, Samilia Prize
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The “Blue Heart” is recognised as the international symbol of the fight against human trafficking. On 28 July 2025, the Blue Heart Campaign was launched at Leuven City Hall. EMN Belgium joined local authorities, the three specialised centres for victims of human trafficking, Myria, the UNODC and many other stakeholders on this occasion. The theme of this year is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation”.
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Before 21 August 2024, public institutions, private non-profit and international organisations may submit an application to receive funding under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for a project strengthening the identification, assistance, support, and integration of third-country national victims of trafficking in human beings.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: AMIF, call for proposals, human trafficking
Publication date:
On 23 April 2024, the European Parliament voted in favor of an amended Directive concerning trafficking in human beings. The new text broadens the EU’s actions against human trafficking beyond labour and sexual exploitation, and also criminalises new forms of exploitation like forced marriage, illicit adoption, and the exploitation of surrogacy at the EU level.
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Recent Eurostat figures show that in 2022, 10.093 victims of human trafficking were registered in the European Union. There were 8.064 suspected traffickers and 2.097 convicted traffickers. The statistics also shed light on gender distribution among traffickers and victims, as well as exploitation patterns.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, victims of human trafficking, gender, sexual exploitation, forced labour, Eurostat
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As part of an investigation into acts of trafficking in human beings, 30 brothels in the northern district of Brussels have been placed under judicial seal. 25 people were subject to judicial arrest and 23 others were administratively deprived of their liberty.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: sexual exploitation, human trafficking
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On the occasion of the European Anti Trafficking Day (on 18 October), PAG-ASA organizes the second Human trafficking awareness week in Brussels! A series of events from 16 to 20 October will give you the opportunity to learn about the issue, better understand its impact on victims and gain insight into the Belgian protection procedure.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, awareness week
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In her 2023 State of the Union Address, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, focused inter alia on migration issues. She underlined that an agreement on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum has never been so close.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional
Keywords: New Pact on Migration and Asylum, human smuggling, human trafficking, temporary protection
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The Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration tasked the Immigration Office to implement a prevention campaign to make people in Nigeria aware of the dangers of human trafficking, exploitation and the risks associated with irregular migration.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: prevention campaign, human trafficking, Nigeria
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The European Crime Prevention Award (ECPA) and Best Practice Conference (BPC) will focus on the trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation and other kinds of exploitation.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking, labour exploitation, crime prevention
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The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 was published today. It shows inter alia that climate change increases vulnerability to trafficking and that armed conflicts are another breeding ground for trafficking.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: human trafficking
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The European Commission is presenting its Second Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: human trafficking
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The 2015 Annual Report on trafficking and smuggling in human beings is now available in English. This report is produced by Myria, the Belgian Federal Migration Centre and the independent National Rapporteur on trafficking in human beings.
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The European Council held a special meeting with a view to adopting different orientations to address the tragic situation in the Mediterranean.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration
Keywords: human trafficking, Mediterranean
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On Wednesday 13 November 2013, Public Policy Exchange will host the 4th Annual International Symposium on Preventing Human Trafficking, in Brussels.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: EU strategy, human trafficking
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Today, 18 October 2013, three international anti-trafficking expert mechanisms called for a global response to fight the transnational scourge of trafficking in persons.
