Rising human trafficking for forced criminality, warns Council of Europe expert group GRETA
Human trafficking for exploitation in criminal activities, in which victims are compelled to commit crimes, is often linked to other forms of organised crime such as drug trafficking, property crimes, migrant smuggling, money laundering, document fraud and online scams.
In its report, GRETA underlines the vulnerability factors that traffickers exploit to compel victims to carry out criminal activities, including poverty, homelessness, unemployment, precarious migration status, disabilities and addictions. Children and young people are exposed to numerous risk factors, especially unaccompanied or separated minors, children in residential care and from disadvantaged minorities.
Forced criminality has emerged as the main form of exploitation of child victims of trafficking in the United Kingdom, affecting predominantly UK children. In Croatia, criminal exploitation accounted for nearly a third of the identified victims in the period 2020-2024. In Albania, the Republic of Moldova, Denmark and the Netherlands, trafficking for criminal exploitation accounted for between 7% and 15% of victims. While noting that this type of trafficking is increasing in many states parties, GRETA notes that it is underrepresented – or even missing – in the data collected in some countries.
“The recruitment of victims is often initiated online, via job announcements, service advertisements, gaming sites and social media. Victims are compelled or forced to perform activities that constitute crimes or other unlawful activities. Failure to identify them as victims of human trafficking results in their being arrested, prosecuted, imprisoned and/or deported”, said Conny Rijken, President of GRETA.
Trafficking for exploitation in criminal activities is directly related to the application of the non-punishment provision of the Council of Europe anti-trafficking convention, which requires states parties to provide for the possibility of not imposing penalties on victims of trafficking in human beings for their involvement in unlawful activities, to the extent that they have been compelled to do so.
“Of the 47 countries that have been evaluated by GRETA, 22 have adopted specific legal provisions concerning the non-punishment of victims of trafficking. The number of such countries has increased following recommendations made by GRETA. Nevertheless, progress remains incomplete, and we call on states parties to continue strengthening their legal frameworks and practices,” underlined GRETA’s President.
INTRODUCTION BY THE PRESIDENT OF GRETA ACTIVITIES DURING THE PERIOD FROM 1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2025
Introduction
GRETA meetings
Country visits and evaluations
GRETA MEMBERSHIP AND BUREAU SIGNATURES AND RATIFICATIONS OF THE CONVENTION VISIBILITY AND IMPACT OF THE MONITORING PROCESS
Publicity of GRETA’s reports
Practical impact of GRETA’s monitoring work
Activities related to the implementation of GRETA’s recommendations
MEETING OF NATIONAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING CO-ORDINATORS AND RAPPORTEURS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTION ON ACTION AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPLOITATION IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES: VICTIM OR PERPETRATOR? RELATIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE OF THE PARTIES CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER COUNCIL OF EUROPE BODIES
European Court of Human Rights
Other Council of Europe bodies
CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
United Nations
Inter-Agency Co-ordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT)
OSCE/ODIHR
European Union
CO-OPERATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY APPENDIX 1
Chart of signatures and ratifications of the Council of Europe
Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
Status as of 31/12/2025
APPENDIX 2
GRETA’s field of operations
States bound by the Convention
APPENDIX 3
List of GRETA members (as at 31 December 2025)
APPENDIX 4
Secretariat of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (as at 31 December 2025)
APPENDIX 5
List of GRETA’s activities during the period 1 January to 31 December 2025
APPENDIX 6
List of activities organised to support the implementation of GRETA’s recommendations during the period 1 January to 31 December 2025
APPENDIX 7
Provisional timetable of GRETA’s 4th Evaluation Round
APPENDIX 8
Participation of GRETA members and Secretariat in relevant events and meetings
APPENDIX 9
Workflow of the monitoring mechanism of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking
Convention
