The report provides an in‑depth overview of Belgium’s status for smuggling victims, highlighting its objectives, legal framework, and practical implementation. It examines how the status is applied, who benefits from it, and the operational challenges encountered. The publication also identifies gaps in data collection and coordination between agencies. Finally, it offers evidence‑based recommendations to strengthen victim protection and improve the overall effectiveness of the system.

The report compiles available figures for the period 2015–2024 and examines how data are recorded, shared and used. It provides a clearer statistical basis for understanding the situation of minors at risk of trafficking and aggravated forms of smuggling, while identifying structural gaps in current data systems.

Myria, the Federal Migration Centre and independent national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, published its independent and public annual report “Victims: Seeing Them and Listening to Them” on 8 December 2025. The report draws attention to the psychological vulnerabilities of victims of human trafficking and calls, inter alia, for strengthened training and specialisation of professionals on the specific psychological vulnerabilities and needs of these victims.

Myria, the Federal Migration Centre and independent national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, published its independent and public annual report "Latin American Sex Work: A Risky Carousel" on 18 December 2024. Myria draws attention to the phenomenon of Latin American sex work and calls for adapting the fight against trafficking to the new realities linked to the digital world.

This manual, aimed at both workplace inspection staff and trainers, intends to empower them to enforce the protective standards in EU law that safeguard the rights of third-country workers, including seasonal workers, migrant workers with temporary permits and migrants in an irregular situation. 

This publication, entitled "Tackling threat, addressing challenges - Europol's response to migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings in 2023 and onwards", looks into the latest developments and main threats in migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings (THB) based on the most recent operations supported by Europol. It highlights the main challenges presented by the current criminal landscape and aims to help law enforcement step up the fight against criminal networks.

The general report 2023 of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) includes a stocktaking of the third evaluation round of the Convention, which focused on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. GRETA analyses trends emerging from its country reports, drawing attention to gaps in the implementation of the Convention, as well as promising practices.

Myria, the Federal Migration Centre and independent national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, published its independent and public annual report "A chain of responsibilities" on 19 December 2023.

Myria, the Federal Migration Centre and independent national rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, published its independent and public annual report "Trapped by debt" on 7 December 2022.

In 2022, Belgium was subject to the third evaluation round of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. This report analyses in detail how the Belgian authorities ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims of trafficking in human beings.

Myria, het Federaal Migratiecentrum en de onafhankelijke nationaal rapporteur mensenhandel, heeft op 15 december 2020 zijn onafhankelijke en openbare jaarverslag "Achter gesloten deuren" gepubliceerd.

Als onafhankelijk Nationaal Rapporteur voor België maakt Myria in zijn rapport Mensenhandel en Mensensmokkel al meer dan twintig jaar elk jaar een onafhankelijke evaluatie van het beleid. Dit jaar wijdt het de focus van zijn verslag aan minderjarige slachtoffers van mensenhandel en mensensmokkel.

Het verslag focust op een bijzonder kwetsbare slachtoffergroep: Nigeriaanse minderjarige meisjes die door mensenhandelaars worden gerekruteerd in hun thuisland om in Europa in de prostitutie uitgebuit te worden.

The GRETA report, covering the period from 1 January until 31 December 2018, stresses that labour exploitation is on the rise across Europe. Also in Belgium, labour exploitation appears as a predominant form of trafficking.

Als onafhankelijk Nationaal Rapporteur mensenhandel voor België maakt Myria in zijn rapport Mensenhandel en Mensensmokkel al twintig jaar elk jaar een onafhankelijke evaluatie van het beleid. Dit jaar wijdt Myria de focus van zijn rapport aan de rol van internet en sociale media in mensenhandel en mensensmokkel.

This publication is based on social media research conducted by a small UNHCR team. Between March and December 2016, they issued weekly monitoring reports which have now been compiled into this synopsis.

The Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC) Joint Report 2016 analyses the irregular migratory movements affecting AFIC countries and EU Member States, cross-border criminality and provides an overview of the main regional security threats affecting the countries in the community. The report also presents a picture of the smuggling networks in Africa.

In dit rapport maakt Myria elk jaar een onafhankelijke evaluatie van de evolutie en de resultaten van de strijd tegen mensenhandel en mensensmokkel. Het rapport van 2016 focust in het bijzonder op de uitbuiting van de bedelarij.

Among other findings, the report estimates that the annual turnover of migrant smuggling was worth an estimated USD 5 to 6 billion in 2015, representing one of the main profit-generating activities for organised criminals in Europe.

This new study by ICMPD, "Targeting Vulnerabilities", examines the impact of the Syrian war on trafficking in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the identification and understanding of what it means to be ‘taking into account the gender perspective, to strengthen the prevention of this crime and protection of the victims thereof’ as required in the Art 1 of EU Directive 2011/36/EU.

Dit rapport belicht de migrantensmokkelroutes, de criminele netwerken, de verbanden met andere vormen van criminaliteit en terrorisme, de illegale financieringsstromen en voorstellen voor toekomstige stappen.

In zijn Jaarverslag Mensenhandel en Mensensmokkel stelt Myria kwalitatieve en kwantitatieve data voor over deze fenomenen, juridische analyses en aanbevelingen. Het rapport van 2015 focust in het bijzonder op slachtoffers van kindhuwelijken en gedwongen huwelijken en slachtoffers van loverboys.

This policy brief, produced by the Migration Policy Centre, focuses on immigration to Europe via the Mediterranean and related issues such as smuggling, sea routes, Mare Nostrum and risks encountered by migrants. It also provides statistics and data.

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.

Op 15 oktober heeft het Centrum voor Gelijkheid van Kansen en Rascismebestrijding haar 16e Jaarverslag over mensenhandel en mensensmokkel voorgesteld.