Annexes to COM(2020)661 - 2020 report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking per art. 20 directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2020)661 - 2020 report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking per art. 20 directive on preventing and combating ... |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2020)661  |
| date | October 20, 2020 |
https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10101/2020/EN/JOIN-2020-5-F1-EN-ANNEX-1-PART-1.PDF
Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council “Towards a comprehensive strategy with Africa” JOIN(2020) 4 final, https://ec.europa.eu/international-
partnerships/system/files/communication-eu-africa-strategy-join-2020-4-final_en.pdf Strasbourg, 6.2.2018 COM(2018) 65 final.
JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Joint Action Plan Implementing the Civilian CSDP Compact 8962/19.
Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the establishment of a Civilian CSDP Compact, 14305/18.
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Trafficking in human beings is extensively addressed in the development and cooperation instruments relating to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Trafficking is included under three specific targets, including eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including for sexual exploitation (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.2), eradication of trafficking and forced labour (SDG 8.7) and eradication of trafficking of children (SDG 16.2). The EU is involved in the process that reviews the United Nations Convention ag ai nst Trans natio nal Organized Crime and its Protocols, including in the area of trafficking in human beings.
Numerous external policies, partnerships and initiatives with third countries or regional organisations have continued to address trafficking in human beings, notably as part of the follow up to the Joint Val etta action Pla n such as the Khartoum and Rabat processes.
Enabling funding for anti-traff icking initiatives within the EU and in partner countries has also remained a priority. Member States reported on projects under shared management funding via the national programmes operating the Internal Security Fund or the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund; and transnational projects funded under the EU grants of Internal Security Fund-Police and Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. Projects also continued to be funded from:
• other EU funding streams (e.g. European Union’s Rights, Equality and
Citizenship Programme);
• EMPAC T act ions, provided for under the budgets of EU agencies;
• national funding;
• through the EU-UN Spotl ight i n itiative;
• the EU Trust Fund for Africa;
• Glo.Act Initiative, the De vel opm ent Cooperation Instrument; and
• the European Development Fund.
To enable policy coherence and consistency, coordination work at EU level conti nued via
• the thematic and structured meetings of the EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings, and of the EU network of national rapporteurs and equivalent mechanisms;
• coordination meetings of the 10 EU agencies who, in 2018, signed the joint statement of commitment to work together against trafficking;
• the European Commission’s inter-service group; and
• meetings with other EU institutions (European Parliament and Council).
International cooperation has also continued, including with international organisations and UN bod ies.
4 CONCLUSIONS
The main findings of this report indicate that trafficking in human beings has not diminished, but has rather evolved within the EU and new risks have arisen. A huge number of victims continue to suffer from violence, threats and the immense harm caused by trafficking. The existence of trafficking in human beings triggers tremendous human, social and economic costs while traffickers and other actors who knowingly or unknowingly are involved in illicit businesses in the trafficking chain, make enormous profits. Countering the culture of impunity of perpetrators, users, exploiters and profiteers is essential to improve the status quo.
The report also notes worthwhile progress has been made on transnational cooperation within the EU and with non-EU countries, including cross-border law enforcement and judicial operational actions, and as regards putting in place and improving national and transnational referral mechanisms and developing the knowledge base about the phenomenon. Nevertheless, the number of prosecutions and convictions remains low, whereas the number of victims remains high. The rather diverse legal landscape on criminalising the use of services exacted from victims of trafficking may hamper further efforts to discourage demand for such services. When victims receive assistance, support and protection, their needs are not taken into account as regards the forms of exploitation they are subjected to, their gender and age and their specific needs and circumstances. Data recording and reporting remains inconsistent. The concerns identified highlight the poor implementation of the Anti-trafficking Directive in Member States, and it needs to be further stepped up.
Trafficking in human beings is a transnational crime feeding illegal demands from within and outside the EU and is having a negative impact on all EU Member States. Stepping up security partnerships between the EU and non-EU countries could increase cooperation to counter shared threats. Such an approach would be based on common security interests and build on established cooperation and security dialogue55. The insufficient progress made and the evolving trafficking trends call for a new strategic approach towards eradicating trafficking in human beings. These actions will be developed in the context of the Agenda on tackling organised crime.
COM(2020) 605 final.
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