A delegation of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out a visit to Hungary from 18 to 20 December 2017 pursuant to Rule 7 of the Rules of procedure for evaluating implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Parties.* The visit focused on the identification and referral to assistance of victims of human trafficking among asylum seekers held in the transit zones at the border to Serbia and examined the measures taken to prevent trafficking of unaccompanied and separated children by creating a protective environment for them.
The visit was carried out by Ms Siobhán Mullally, President of GRETA, and Mr Jan van Dijk, First Vice-President of GRETA, who were accompanied by Mr Markus Lehner of the Secretariat of the Convention.
During the visit, GRETA’s delegation held meetings with relevant officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Asylum and Immigration Office and the Ministry of Human Capacities.
Further, the delegation visited the transit zones in Röszke and Tompa, as well as the Károly István Children’s Centre in Fót.
The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with representatives of non-governmental organisations and officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a report which will be sent to the Hungarian authorities for comments and will subsequently be published.
* Rule 7 provides that "when GRETA receives reliable information indicating a situation where problems require immediate attention to prevent or limit the scale or number of serious violations of the Convention, it may make an urgent request for information to any Party or Parties to the Convention. Taking into account the information submitted by the party or parties concerned, as well as any other reliable information available to it, GRETA may designate rapporteurs to assess the specific situation and, if necessary, carry out a visit to the party or parties concerned."
