The accompanying sixth progress report provides an overview of the implementation of the previous EU strategy for 2021–2025 and presents data for 2023 and 2024. More than 20.000 victims were registered in the EU during this period, an increase of 16.1% compared with 2021 and 2022. According to the latest data, 36% of registered victims were EU citizens, while 64% were non-EU nationals. Women and girls accounted for 63% of registered victims, while children represented 15%. Men accounted for 74% of registered victims of labour exploitation. The report covers different forms of trafficking, including sexual and labour exploitation, forced criminality, begging and forced marriage.

The new strategy identifies six priorities:

• Harnessing modern technology: using digital tools to improve the prevention, detection and investigation of trafficking in human beings.
• Strengthening private sector engagement: establishing a European business coalition against trafficking and supporting cooperation between labour inspectors through the European Labour Authority.
• Disrupting transnational trafficking networks: strengthening cross-border cooperation, intelligence-led policing, financial investigations and asset recovery to tackle trafficking linked to organised crime.
• Preventing exploitation linked to migration: making use of measures under the Pact on Migration and Asylum, including screening, the new border procedure and safeguards in reception.
• Improving preparedness and responses to crises: developing operational guidance, building on the EU anti-trafficking plan for Ukraine, with support from EU agencies, Member States and civil society.
• Strengthening victim protection: improving support and protection for people vulnerable to trafficking and ensuring that victims’ rights are integral to law enforcement and judicial responses.

The strategy recognises that trafficking in human beings cannot be addressed in isolation and requires a whole-of-society and whole-of-government response. It therefore calls for cooperation between Member States, EU institutions and agencies, civil society, social partners, the private sector, and international organisations and partners, including non-EU countries.

The strategy will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. The EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator will continue to work with national coordinators, the EU Civil Society Platform, EU agencies and international partners to implement the actions set out in the strategy.

For further details, please read the sixth progress report and the new strategy attached below.