On the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joins the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Human Beings (JE CHAT) in calling for concerted measures to reduce the vulnerability of children to trafficking, provide specialised assistance to child victims and end trafficking with impunity for traffickers.
In reference to “Call for Accelerated Action by 2025 to Prevent and End Child Trafficking”, ICAT Declaration highlights that children represent one third of known victims of trafficking worldwide, suggesting that existing initiatives to combat and eradicate child trafficking are insufficient to make progress. It is crucial to integrate child trafficking prevention and victim protection and care into child protection frameworks. Furthermore, in conflict and crisis situations, these actions should be integrated into coordination structures and interventions for unaccompanied and separated minors.
“A child-sensitive approach is reflected throughout the Council of Europe’s Anti-Trafficking Convention, which obliges States parties to take specific measures to protect children and reduce their vulnerability to trafficking, including by creating a protective environment for them,” said Helga Gayer, GRETA President. “Child victims of trafficking are often treated as offenders and punished for the crimes they were forced to commit, such as theft or drug offences. States must respect their legal obligations regarding the rights of victims of trafficking. This includes improving the proactive identification of child victims of trafficking, including in the online environment, and strengthening multidisciplinary cooperation to ensure that the best interests of the child are respected at all stages,” GRETA President stressed.
GRETA’s monitoring of the Convention has paid particular attention to the development of preventive measures targeting children in the most vulnerable situations, such as children whose births have not been registered, children in street situations, children in or leaving institutions, children from disadvantaged communities, unaccompanied and separated children and asylum-seeking children. GRETA has stressed the urgent need to strengthen measures to prevent the online recruitment of children, including by cooperating with Internet service providers and by raising awareness among children, parents and education professionals about the risk of child recruitment via the Internet.
GRETA calls on States parties to the Convention to respect their legal obligations regarding the rights and treatment of child victims of trafficking, which include their proactive identification and referral to specialised assistance, the prompt appointment of legal guardians for unaccompanied children and full respect of the non-punishment clause.
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