The Covid-19 pandemic is having a worrying impact on human trafficking across Europe and states should do more to prevent it, according to the latest annual report from the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).
“The effects of the pandemic have made victims of human trafficking even more vulnerable,” said GRETA President Helga Gayer. “Frontline NGOs have reported delays in people being formally identified as victims of trafficking, which seriously affects their access to safe accommodation, healthcare and much-needed support whilst also putting them at risk of further abuse.”
“Traffickers have made the most of the situation, exploiting the precarious financial situation of many of their victims. Furthermore, whilst the authorities are reporting increased sexual exploitation and criminal activity online, stretched resources and delays in the justice system are hampering efforts to bring traffickers to account and to provide justice and compensation to their victims,” she added.
GRETA’s 10th General Report provides a detailed account of its activities from 1 January to 31 December 2020, which include the publication of new guidance to help states meet their obligations under the Council of Europe’s 2005 anti-trafficking convention: a Guidance Note on the entitlement of victims of trafficking, and persons at risk of being trafficked, to international protection and a Guidance Note on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation.
The report includes a dedicated section on the impact of Covid-19 on combating human trafficking and a further section on the identification of trafficked persons amongst asylum seekers and access to international protection by victims of trafficking.
“It is crucial to the safety of vulnerable asylum seekers that those who have been trafficked are effectively identified and provided with the support, assistance and protection to which they are entitled under the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking convention,” added GRETA’s President.
In the report, GRETA again calls on the Russian Federation to ratify the convention, which has already been ratified by all of the other 46 Council of Europe member states as well as non-member Belarus. Israel formally expressed its interest in acceding to the convention in August 2020.
Covid-19 and human trafficking
GRETA’s annual report for 2020 provides a number of examples of how the pandemic is affecting measures to tackle human trafficking in specific countries, including the following:
- In Germany, following a decision to temporarily close brothels and other businesses involving prostitution throughout the country, there has been an increase in hidden prostitution, accompanied by more exploitative conditions and violence.
- In Spain, perpetrators are increasingly using digital platforms, such as Airbnb, to rent apartments where sexual exploitation takes place, which reduces the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect victims.
- In Malta, after the first cases of Covid-19 were detected amongst asylum seekers, all asylum reception centres and immigration detention centres were closed, preventing the UNHCR and NGOs from visiting and providing information and legal assistance.
In some countries, governments have been working closely with civil society actors to ensure that support structures remain functional and can be accessed by those affected, including victims of human trafficking:
- In Spain, the Ministry of Equality adopted a Contingency Plan against gender violence due to the Covid-19 crisis, with specific measures guaranteeing the protection of the rights of victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking for sexual purposes, as well as the provision of services and resources to meet their specific needs.
- In Italy, due to the Covid-19 emergency, the Department for Equal Opportunities decided to postpone the issuing of a new call for victim assistance project proposals and provided for an extension of all projects until 31 December 2020.
- In the United Kingdom, service providers indicated that access to shelters and services had continued, with an increase in virtual support.
However, there are also reports about hindered access to services, such as shelter and health care, thus increasing the likelihood of re-traumatisation or re-victimisation. The pandemic has led, in particular, to a disruption in victim assistance and support services provided by NGOs.
Identification of trafficked persons amongst asylum seekers
An increasing number of parties to the anti-trafficking convention report having identified trafficked persons amongst asylum seekers:
- In Norway, according to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), 98 international protection applicants were identified as presumed victims of trafficking in 2016-2019.
- In Switzerland, according to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), 289 presumed victims of trafficking were detected amongst asylum seekers in 2014-2017.
In a number of countries, GRETA was informed that victims of trafficking were recognised as refugees or obtained some other kind of international protection:
- In Austria, there has been an increase in the number of victims granted asylum, mostly Nigerian women, based on the grounds of membership of a particular social group.
- In Cyprus, in the period 2015-2020, 12 persons were granted refugee status on the grounds of being victims of trafficking.
- In Norway, in 2016-2019, 55 presumed victims of trafficking were granted residence permits in the international protection procedure (of which 36 were recognised as refugees).
