Ukraine Receives New GRETA Recommendations on Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking

The Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published a report on Ukraine's implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. At the 36th meeting of the Committee of the Parties held in Strasbourg, relevant recommendations were adopted for participating countries. Ukraine was represented by Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration Iryna Postolovska and Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Borys Tarasyuk.

Ukraine is systematically working to improve policies in the field of combating human trafficking, focusing on preventing such cases. The task is not only to respond to the crime but also to build an effective support system that works proactively.

The GRETA report acknowledges Ukraine's efforts to combat human trafficking even amid full-scale war. In particular, it mentions the adoption of a state program with increased funding, provision of free legal aid to victims, expanded access to psychosocial support, and strengthened international cooperation.

At the same time, most cases of human trafficking are related to the exploitation of Ukrainians both abroad and within Ukraine. The most common forms are labor and sexual exploitation, involvement in criminal activities, and engagement in armed conflict. The proportion of mixed forms of exploitation, which include all these forms, is also growing.

GRETA provided Ukraine with a number of recommendations, including:

• establishing a state compensation system for victims, regardless of their citizenship;
• ensuring safer and more child-friendly conditions for child victims during judicial proceedings;
• strengthening oversight of employment agencies operating abroad;
• removing restrictions on labor inspectors to enable them to more effectively detect cases of labor exploitation;
• exempting victims from liability for unlawful acts committed under coercion.

The Ministry of Social Policy, together with state authorities and civil society organizations working in the field of combating human trafficking, will review GRETA's recommendations and continue working to improve the anti-trafficking system, providing assistance and protection to victims and preventing trafficking. In particular, measures to implement the recommendations will be included in the State Targeted Social Program on Combating Human Trafficking for 2026-2030, which the Ministry is already developing.

During the event in Strasbourg, Iryna Postolovska held a working meeting with the Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Organs, Oscar Alarcon Jimenez. The parties discussed key provisions of the Convention, opportunities for international cooperation in combating this crime, and the importance of establishing effective mechanisms to protect victims' rights.

For reference: The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) was established under Article 36 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which entered into force on 1 February 2008. GRETA is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention by member states and preparing evaluation reports on measures taken by each party.