26/10/2020
EU Commission report: crime continues to evolve and coronavirus facilitates traffickersTrafficking of human beings, exploitation also starts from the web
Human traffickers are making increasing use of the internet and social media to recruit and exploit victims. Trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation remains the predominant purpose of trafficking in human beings, but labour exploitation should also be highlighted, the latter being mainly linked to the vulnerable situations in the migration context that migrants often face.
These are some of the main indications that emerge from the "Third progress report on the fight against trafficking in human beings ", presented on October 21, 2020 by the European Commission just a few days before the 14th anniversary of the European Anti-Trafficking Day (October 18, 2020) established by the EU Commission.
The report presents the progress made in several areas, such as transnational cooperation, in particular through referral mechanisms and the joint efforts of Europol and Eurojust. However, crime continues to evolve. Almost half of the victims are EU citizens (49%) and a third (34%) of victims have been trafficked within their EU Member State. The vast majority of victims of trafficking are women and girls (72%). Almost one in four victims (22%) is a child.
It should be noted that the number of prosecutions and convictions remains low compared to the number of victims reported. In 2017/2018, 14,145 victims were registered, but only 6,163 prosecutions and 2,426 convictions.
The coronavirus pandemic exacerbates vulnerability to trafficking, causes delays in identifying victims and hinders access to justice, assistance and support.
Protecting society from organised crime, and in particular tackling trafficking in human beings, is a priority under the new EU Security Union Strategy. A new strategic approach towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings is already underway as part of the EU Security Union Strategy and the New Pact on Migration and Asylum and will be developed in the context of the Agenda on tackling organised crime to be presented in early 2021.
Third report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings
Fact Page on Trafficking in Human Beings
Anti-Trafficking Day has also been celebrated in Trento and Rovereto
Published: Monday 26 October 2020
