A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Spain on 4-8 July 2022 as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The focus of this evaluation round of the Convention is on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. Prior to the visit, the Spanish authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA verified how the main recommendations made in its second evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation held consultations with representatives of the State Secretary for Security and the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as officials of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Equality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations, the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy, the Ministry of Health, the National Prosecutor’s Office, the General Directorate of the Policía Nacional, the General Directorate of the Guardia Civil, and the National Council for the Judiciary. It also met members of the judiciary, law enforcement officials and labour inspectors.
Furthermore, meetings were held with Ms Patricia Bárcena, Deputy Ombudsperson, and members of the Ombudsperson’s Office, as well as with members of the Spanish Parliament.
In addition, the GRETA delegation met relevant officials at the regional and local level, including representatives of the government delegations in Madrid, Sevilla and Barcelona, the autonomous communities of Madrid, Andalusia and Catalonia, and the cities of Madrid, Huelva and Barcelona.
Separate meetings were held with representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and lawyers representing victims of human trafficking. The visit provided an opportunity to visit two specialised shelters and a centre for the reintegration of victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, run by NGOs in Madrid and Barcelona, and to interview victims of human trafficking.
Further, the GRETA delegation visited the closed reception centre for asylum seekers at the airport of Barajas-Madrid. It also travelled to the area of Huelva (Andalusia) where it witnessed the living conditions of undocumented agricultural workers.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met with representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
The visit was carried out by Ms Helga Gayer, President of GRETA. and Mr Francesco Curcio, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Daniela Ranalli and Ms Parvine Ghadami of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Spanish authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published in 2023.
