According to Europol, human trafficking is a serious crime that affects the people’s fundamental rights and dignity, being one of the most frequent forms embodied by modern slavery. A recent Eurostat report revealed that over 83 000 trafficking victims were registered in the European Union in the last decade (2013-2013). Nevertheless, human trafficking remains largely underreported.
The High-Level Conference held in Warsaw on 18 September 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS No. 197). In this context, the added value of the monitoring work of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) should be acknowledged. In line with the Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2323 (2020) “Concerted action against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants”, parliaments should do their utmost by using the tools at their disposal to support the prevention and fight against human trafficking.
From a criminological perspective, human trafficking is the means while sexual exploitation or forced labour is the purpose. For this reason, the fight against human trafficking must be viewed in its entire chain of causality and responsibility. Moreover, human trafficking does not end on the territory of the countries of origin, and has implications for the countries of destination, where victims are exploited and profits are made.
In fighting human trafficking, the measures taken by the countries of origin are not sufficient to break the vicious circle of this insidious scourge.
To put an end to the perpetuation of human trafficking, the Assembly should call on countries of destination to review their own relevant policies by setting up more appropriate mechanisms designed to hold those who are guilty criminally liable.