The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is an important binding human rights treaty to effectively fight trafficking in human beings. Now a comprehensive Commentary has been published which provides a first fully up-to-date analysis and interpretation of the Convention. It offers a concise yet thorough article-by-article guide to the Convention’s anti-trafficking standards and corresponding human rights obligations. Petya Nesterova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings states in the foreword of the Commentary ‘By clarifying the substantive content of the provisions of the Convention and the relationship between its different articles, as well as with other relevant standards, this Commentary has the potential of eliminating discrepancies in the interpretation of the obligations of State Parties, thereby contributing to ensuring compliance with the Convention. This is crucial for closing the gaps, extending protection to trafficked people, and curbing human trafficking’.
The Commentary has been edited by Julia Planitzer and Helmut Sax, Senior Researchers of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights in Vienna, Austria and is written together with a number of other experts in the field. The Commentary takes a critical perspective while analysing the content and scope of the provisions of the Convention. The publication is freely accessible here