Source: Press release DC 102(2012) - Strasbourg, 04.10.2012

In its latest annual report, published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking watchdog GRETA (Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings) has urged countries across the continent  to step up the fight against human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is a European tragedy. Today’s report shows that women, men and children are falling victim to sexual abuse, labour exploitation or being forced into criminality in countries across the continent,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland.

“Many victims are still not being properly recognised or given the support that they need. Furthermore, problems with investigations and prosecutions mean that traffickers are not being sufficiently punished for their crimes.

“International organisations, national authorities and non-governmental bodies must work together to help put an end to these shocking human rights abuses, which have no place in 21st century Europe,” he said.

The Group of Experts on Trafficking in Human Beings monitors how well countries implement the Council of Europe’s convention on fighting human trafficking ( CETS No.197). 37 Council of Europe countries, including 22 EU member states, are so far bound by the convention.

Today’s report identifies a number of key trends emerging from GRETA’s first ten country-by-country monitoring reports, covering Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and the Slovak Republic.