Some 40 representatives of Polish government agencies and civil society organisations met in Warsaw on 28 February 2025 to discuss progress made in the implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention, on the basis of the third evaluation report issued by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation.

The meeting was opened by Mr Czesław Mroczek, First Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration, who stated that dismantling criminal groups involved in human trafficking and protecting victims of trafficking were part of the priorities of the Polish authorities. He underlined several steps taken since the publication of the third GRETA report on Poland, including the adoption of a new National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings for the period 2025-2028 and the ongoing preparation of a comprehensive law on trafficking in human beings.

Further, Ms Karina Wegrzynowska, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Warsaw, stated at the opening of the meeting: “The Convention was adopted in Warsaw in 2005, and Poland was among the first countries to ratify it in 2008. This is a sign of the importance attached by the country to combating human trafficking.”

The discussions focused on trafficking victims’ access to legal assistance, legal aid and compensation, the criminal justice response to human trafficking, measures to combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation and action against child trafficking.

Poland is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties to the Convention on the measures taken to comply with the recommendation by 16 June 2025.