Some 70 representatives of government departments, agencies and civil society organisations across the United Kingdom met in London and online on 12 October 2023 to discuss the implementation of the recommendations from the third evaluation report on the UK by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and the related Committee of the Parties’ recommendation.

The meeting was co-organised by the Anti-Trafficking Division of the Council of Europe and the Home Office. Participants focused in particular on victims' access to legal aid and compensation, the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases, the identification of victims of trafficking, the provision of assistance and protection to them, and return policies. Co-operation with civil society and engagement with the private sector in combating human trafficking were also discussed.

The United Kingdom is expected to report to the Committee of the Parties to the Convention on the measures taken to comply with its recommendation by 17 December 2023.

The event also provided an opportunity to present the new Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)21 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Country Monitoring | the United Kingdom