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 Malta on 9-12 December 2024, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
This evaluation round of monitoring the implementation of the Convention 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. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examines how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report have been implemented.
Prior to the visit, the Maltese authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met Mr Jonathan Vassallo, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister for European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue, along with officials from the Human Rights Directorate of the Office. Meetings were also held with officials from other relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry for Health, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, the Social Care Standards Authority, the International Protection Agency, the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers, the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations, the Jobsplus, the Identity Malta Agency, the Victim Support Agency, the Legal Aid Agency, the Correctional Services Agency, and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit. In addition, meetings were held with Ms Victoria Buttigieg, Attorney General, representatives of the judiciary and the police. Further, the delegation met with representatives of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability and the Office of the Commissioner for Children.
The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations and a lawyer representing victims of trafficking. Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited the safe house for victims of human trafficking and the emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence, run by the agency Appoġġ, which can also accommodate victims of human trafficking, as well as the Safi Barracks Detention Centre for immigrants.
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 Mr Mesut Bedirhanoglu of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report which will be sent to the Maltese authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published.
