La Strada International welcomes the development of a new EU Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the coming years, and underlines the importance of a comprehensive approach covering all stages of human trafficking, from prevention to investigation and prosecution, with the rights, protection and support of victims at its core, at both EU and international level.
We expect the forthcoming EU Strategy to demonstrate a renewed political commitment and to establish a strong, coherent policy framework to effectively prevent and address human trafficking across the EU. The Strategy should reinforce the correct and effective application of the (amended) EU Anti-Trafficking Directive by providing clear strategic guidance, and serve as a forward-looking framework for coordinated action to guide EU anti-trafficking efforts in the years ahead. Such action should be taken with strong involvement of civil society.
Recognising the complexity of human trafficking, the strategy must promote a comprehensive response that addresses root causes, strengthens prevention and supports Member States in better assisting victims, through a clear human rights-based approach, protecting individuals at risk, empowering victims, and ensuring their effective access to their rights. It should also advance awareness-raising, research, and robust data collection, next to ensuring that serious criminal conduct is effectively investigated and prosecuted.
While meeting their existing legal obligations, we believe, the European Commission and EU Member States have sufficient scope to go further than the minimum required by EU law and can take additional measures.
Priority areas:
- Effective Use of the Existing Legal and Policy Framework: The EU must prioritise implementation of EU anti-trafficking law, with clearer guidance and regular exchange among Member States, strengthen cooperation with key partners, set strategic national priorities; and reinforce national coordination mechanisms across sectors. In a context of financial constraints, anti-trafficking action must become more effective, targeted and cost-efficient.
- Victims’ Access to Support and Protection: The EU must ensure early identification through trained multidisciplinary teams, establish safe reporting – including data firewall protections -, guarantee unconditional support regardless of status, strengthen NRMs, and apply the non-punishment provision early and effectively. Victims’ support services should also be strengthened and expanded, including legal aid, mental health care and compensation.
- Awareness & Prevention: It is essential to focus on reducing vulnerabilities and increase outreach to people at risk – especially migrants and those in informal work. For that, access to protection mechanisms and awareness raising must be improved. Launch public awareness-raising campaigns to inform the public, employers, and service users about the criminalisation of knowing use of trafficking victims’ services.
- Accountability of the Private Sector: The EU must strengthen regulation of recruitment and subcontracting chains, extend labour protections to all workers, reinforce the monitoring and enforcement of labour standards, imposing sanctions against exploitative companies, align anti-trafficking work with EU due diligence and forced labour rules. It should also snsure that financial investigations are systematically integrated in order to recover assets and support compensation.
- Involvement of Civil Society Actors in all Aspects of Anti-Trafficking Work: The EU must guarantee meaningful involvement of CSOs in identification, referral and development and implementation of NRMs. The strategy must also promote the protection of independent civil society space by strengthening CSO participation in EU and national coordination. States should aslo ensure safe, consent-based and paid involvement of people with lived experience.
- Monitoring & Data Collection: We call for support to independent rapporteurs, improvement of EU-wide data collection, information-sharing, and monitoring of the impact of EU and national anti-trafficking policies. Also, strengthen digital capacity to respond to evolving trafficking methods and monitor impact on access to rights and NRMs.
- Funding & Resources: The strategy must promote sustained funding for specialised shelters, comprehensive support services for victims, and frontline training. Priority must be given t0 grassroots organisations in EU and national funding and cost-effective and long-term funding, rather then fragmented and project-based support. Investment in evidence-based and victim-centred actions, monitoring and independent research should also be a priority.