The Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention provides for a monitoring mechanism to assess the implementation of its provisions by State Parties, made up of two bodies: the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and the Committee of the Parties.

In addition to the work carried out by GRETA and the Committee of the Parties, the activities of other Council of Europe bodies are relevant to combating trafficking in human beings.

Committee of Ministers

Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member States:

  • CM/Rec(2023)2 on rights, services and support for victims of crime; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2022)21 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation; EN - FR | Explanatory Memorandum : EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2022)17 on protecting the rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls: EN - FR (News) EN - FR (Rec)
  • CM/Rec(2016)3 on human rights and business; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2015)3 on the access of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2012)10 on the protection of child and young athletes from dangers associated with migration: EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2008)10 on improving access of migrants and persons of immigrant background to employment; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2006)8 on assistance to crime victims; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2002)5 on the protection of women against violence; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2001)16 on the protection of children against sexual exploitation; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(2000)11 on action against trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(97)13 concerning intimidation of witnesses and the rights of the defence; EN - FR
  • CM/Rec(91)11 concerning sexual exploitation, pornography and prostitution of, and trafficking in, children and young adults; EN - FR

 Committee of Ministers

European Court of Human Rights

While the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) does not expressly mention trafficking in human beings, its Article 4 prohibits “slavery”, “servitude” and “forced or compulsory labour”. In its case-law, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has interpreted Article 4 by extending the material scope of this provision to include trafficking in human beings.

Several judgments have addressed the violation of Article 4 and specified the situations included, whether it be slavery, servitude, forced labour, trafficking in human beings or forced prostitution.

 Case-law of the European Court of Human Rights

Parliamentary Assembly

  • Combating trafficking in human tissues and cells (2020); EN - FR
  • Concerted action against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants (2020); EN - FR
  • Prostitution, trafficking and modern slavery in Europe (2014); EN - FR
  • Trafficking of migrant workers for forced labour (2013); EN - FR
  • Action against trafficking in human beings: promoting the Council of Europe convention (2010); EN - FR
  • Stop trafficking in women before the FIFA World Cup (2006); EN - FR
  • Domestic slavery: servitude, au pairs and mail-order brides (2004); EN - FR
  • Migration connected with trafficking in women and prostitution (2003); EN - FR
  • Trafficking in organs in Europe (2003); EN - FR
  • Campaign against trafficking in women (2002); EN - FR
  • Violence against women in Europe (2000); EN - FR
  • Traffic in women and forced prostitution in Council of Europe member states (1997); EN - FR

 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

  • Debate on “Fighting human trafficking: The role of local authorities” | 30th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities – 22 to 24 March 2016; EN
  • RES 210(2006) Resolution on the Council of Europe campaign to combat trafficking in human beings (2006); EN - FR
  • Declaration on the fight against trafficking in human beings opened for signature on 31 May 2006; EN - FR
  • Recommendation 165 (2005) on the fight against trafficking in human beings and their sexual exploitation: the role of cities and regions; EN - FR
  • Resolution 196 (2005) on the fight against trafficking in human beings and their sexual exploitation: the role of cities and regions; EN - FR
  • Explanatory memorandum on the fight against trafficking in human beings and their sexual exploitation: the role of cities and regions (2005); EN - FR

 Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Human Rights Commissionner

  • Recommendation “Lives saved. Rights protected. Bridging the protection gap for refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean” (2019); EN - FR
  • Human Rights Comment: “Time to deliver on commitments to protect people on the move from human trafficking and exploitation (2019); EN - FR

 Council of Europe Commissionner for Human Rights

Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees

  • Fact-finding missions: As part of newly-introduced working methods, a member of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), a member of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), and a member of the Committee of the Parties of the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee) participated in the fact-finding missions to the Czech Republic (4–6 May 2022), the Slovak Republic (2–4 May 2022), Poland (30 May–3 June 2022) the Republic of Moldova (13–14 June 2022) and Romania (12–14 December 2022).
  • First Interim Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan; EN - FR
  • Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025) EN - FR

 Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees

Other Council of Europe conventions
  • Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 005): EN - FR
  • European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 24) and the protocols thereto: EN - FR
  • European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (ETS No. 30) and the protocols thereto: EN - FR
  • European Social Charter (ETS No. 35); EN – FR; and the European Social Charter (revised) (ETS No. 163): EN - FR
  • European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes (ETS No. 116): EN - FR
  • Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime (ETS No. 141): EN - FR
  • European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights (ETS No. 160): EN - FR
  • Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 173): EN - FR
  • Civil Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 174): EN - FR
  • Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185): EN - FR
  • Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (CETS No. 201): EN - FR
  • Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (CETS No. 210): EN - FR
  • Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs (CETS No. 216): EN - FR

 Council of Europe Treaty Office

Reference texts
  • Roadmap on strengthening action against trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation (2019); SG/Inf(2019)34; EN - FR
  • Report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, “Ready for future challenges – Reinforcing the Council of Europe” (2019); SG(2019); 1 EN - FR
  • Decision taken at the 129th Session of the Committee of Ministers in Helsinki on 17 May 2019; CM/Del/Dec(2019)129/2a; EN - FR
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