In a new report published today, the Council of Europe expert body on trafficking in human beings (GRETA) praises Germany for having significantly evolved its national legal framework against human trafficking since the first evaluation of the implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS. No.197) in 2015.
GRETA welcomes the introduction of the new offence of human trafficking and related amendments to the German Criminal Code, which reflects the convention’s provisions in a significantly more comprehensive manner.
Legal amendments made to the Residence Act strengthen the right of trafficking victims to be issued a residence permit for the purpose of their co-operation in criminal proceedings and introduced the possibility for victims to receive a temporary residence permit after the conclusion of criminal proceedings, if humanitarian or personal reasons or public interests require their further presence in Germany.
