The Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has urged the Italian authorities to take further action against human trafficking, notably by strengthening measures to combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, ensuring effective sanctions for human traffickers, and providing compensation to victims.
In its latest report, GRETA assesses developments since the publication of its second evaluation report on Italy in 2019 as regards the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Today’s report shows that between 2,100 and 3,800 persons have been detected as possible victims of trafficking in Italy per year. While most of victims were women, the number of men and transgender victims has increased. Sexual exploitation remains predominant, but the number of victims of labour exploitation is growing.
GRETA notes that these figures do not reflect the real scale of the phenomenon of human trafficking in Italy, due to the persisting limitations of the existing procedures for identifying victims, as well as a low self-reporting rate by victims who fear being punished or deported. Trafficking for labour exploitation remains under-reported, says the report. High-risk sectors include agriculture, textile, domestic service, construction, hospitality and restaurants.
The report notes a number of positive developments since GRETA’s last evaluation of Italy in 2019. These include the adoption of a new national action plan against trafficking, the increase in the funding for victim assistance, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures for the identification of child victims of trafficking and exploitation.
Nevertheless, GRETA expresses concern over a number of issues. There has been a decrease in the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking, notes the report. Even if compensation is granted by courts to victims participating as a civil party in criminal proceedings, it can take several years before the final decision. GRETA is also concerned that no victims of trafficking have received compensation from the fund for anti-trafficking measures.
GRETA calls on the authorities to ensure that human trafficking offences are proactively and promptly investigated, and lead to effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions. Further, victims of trafficking should obtain a decision on compensation as part of the criminal proceedings, within a reasonable time. GRETA also stresses that the authorities should make the state compensation scheme effectively accessible to victims of trafficking.
In the report, GRETA recognises that efforts have been made to improve the detection of victims of trafficking among asylum seekers, notably by the territorial commissions for the recognition of international protection. However, GRETA is concerned that the restrictive immigration measures adopted by Italy foster a climate of criminalisation of migrants, resulting in many potential victims of trafficking not reporting their cases for fear of detention and deportation.
According to the report, Italy has taken measures to prevent trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, such as the adoption of guidelines on the identification, protection, and assistance to victims of labour exploitation in agriculture. However, labour exploitation continues to be deeply rooted in some sectors which are highly dependent on migrant labour. GRETA calls on the authorities to step up their efforts to combat trafficking for labour exploitation, including by ensuring that sufficient resources are made available to labour inspectors, strengthening the monitoring of at-risk sectors, and guaranteeing that the living and working conditions of migrant workers meet the requirements laid down in the legislation with a view to preventing abuses.
