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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 Cyprus on 4-7 December 2023, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

This was the first visit carried out by GRETA under the fourth evaluation round of monitoring the implementation of the Convention, which focuses on vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent them, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. This includes the use of information and communication technology (ICT), which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.

Prior to the visit, the Cypriot authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examined how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report have been implemented.

During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Mr Elikkos Elia, National Co-ordinator against Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as officials from the Civil Registry and Migration Department, the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, including the Office of Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the Cybercrime Unit, the Office of the Attorney General, the Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS), the Asylum Service, the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, the Labour Inspectorate, the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, and the Social Welfare Service. Further, the delegation met with the representatives of the Office of the Law Commissioner, the Commission for Gender Equality, the National Machinery for the Advancement of Women, the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman), and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights. The delegation also met with representatives of the Standing Committees on Human Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women of the Parliament.

The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with non-governmental organisations and lawyers representing victims of human trafficking. It also met representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Representation of the European Commission.

The visit provided an opportunity to visit the state shelter accommodating victims of human trafficking and a semi-independent accommodation for unaccompanied children in Nicosia, as well as the reception centre for asylum seekers Pournara. The delegation also met with victims of trafficking.

The visit was carried out by Ms Antoaneta Vassileva, First Vice-President of GRETA, and Mr Georgios Vanikiotis, member of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Asja Zujo of the Secretariat of the Convention.

Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Cypriot authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report, which will be made public.