NGOCSTIP – On January 20, 2025, the European Commission released its fifth progress report on combating trafficking in human beings across the European Union (EU). This report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the EU’s actions from 2021 to 2024, outlines key advancements in the fight against human trafficking and addresses both successes and ongoing challenges. The report, coordinated by the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, is based on contributions from EU member states, agencies, and members of the EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings.
The new report highlights the significant progress the EU has made since the launch of the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021-2025). The strategy’s implementation has been central to EU efforts to strengthen the legal, policy, and operational frameworks aimed at eradicating human trafficking. One of the key findings of the report is the 20.5% increase in the number of registered victims between 2021 and 2022. This rise is primarily attributed to improvements in victim detection, although it also reflects the reality of an increasing number of human trafficking cases.
A notable trend in the data is that more than half (54%) of the victims were non-EU citizens, underscoring the international nature of trafficking networks. Despite this, challenges persist in the form of low prosecution and conviction rates, which remain a significant barrier to effectively combating human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies continue to struggle with collecting evidence, and as traffickers increasingly operate online, the task of identifying and supporting victims has become more complex.
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The report also reveals alarming details about the different forms of exploitation that trafficking victims face. Sexual exploitation remained the most prevalent form of trafficking in the EU during the reporting period, accounting for 49% of all cases. Shockingly, 92% of victims of sexual exploitation were women and girls. Labour exploitation also showed a concerning increase, with a 51% rise in the number of victims. In this case, men represented 70% of the victims, highlighting a shift in the demographics of those affected by trafficking for forced labor.
Child trafficking continues to be a severe issue in the EU, with children making up 19% of all trafficking victims. While the number of child victims decreased by 3% compared to the previous report, the scale of the problem remains troubling. Other forms of exploitation, such as forced criminality and forced begging, represent 14% of all trafficking victims.
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Since 2011, the EU’s Anti-Trafficking Directive has been the cornerstone of its efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking. However, in light of emerging challenges, a revision of the Directive was adopted in July 2024. The revised Directive introduces stronger measures to tackle trafficking, offering public authorities improved tools for investigating and prosecuting trafficking offences. Additionally, the revision includes provisions for enhanced victim support, with a particular emphasis on child protection.
One of the significant updates to the Directive is the recognition of online sexual exploitation as an aggravating factor in trafficking cases. This reflects the increasing role that the internet and digital platforms play in facilitating exploitation. Another key change is the criminalization of the knowing use of services provided by trafficking victims. This aims to reduce the demand for exploitation and disrupt the trafficking networks that profit from it.
Building upon the current EU Strategy, a new anti-trafficking strategy will be developed to address emerging challenges beyond 2025. This new Strategy will provide the framework for EU efforts to continue tackling human trafficking after the current strategy concludes. EU member states must adopt national anti-trafficking plans by July 2028 to comply with the revised Anti-Trafficking Directive, and the new strategy will work alongside these plans.
The new Strategy aims to ensure that EU actions continue to evolve in response to emerging forms of exploitation and the complex dynamics of trafficking networks. It will also work towards improving collaboration between EU member states and other international stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach to combatting human trafficking.
As the EU strengthens its commitment to combating human trafficking, the latest progress report provides a clear picture of both the progress made and the challenges that remain. The fight against combating human trafficking is far from over, but with enhanced legal frameworks, improved detection mechanisms, and greater international cooperation, there is hope that these efforts will lead to meaningful change in the coming years.
