Council of Europe: first evaluation report on Italy of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)

Strasbourg, 22 September 2014 - The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has published its first evaluation report on Italy. The report is the first assessment by GRETA of the extent to which Italy implements the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. In spite of the steps that have been taken by Italian authorities to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, a number of challenges remain, according to the report.

GRETA welcomes the development of the legal framework for combating trafficking in human beings in Italy and stresses an important role of the civil society in detecting and assisting the victims. However, GRETA underlines the importance of better co-ordination among those who are involved in fighting trafficking as well as the need for comprehensive national anti-trafficking action plan. 

Moreover, GRETA urges the Italian authorities to improve the identification of victims of trafficking by introducing a national identification and referral mechanism and also to strengthen the effectiveness of investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking-related offences.

GRETA welcomes the possibility for victims of trafficking to be granted a residence permit both on the basis of their personal situation and when co-operating with the authorities and invites the authorities to ensure that victims can fully benefit in practice from this right. Moreover, the recovery and reflection period provided for under the Convention should be specifically defined in law. 

Besides, along with a report on Italy GRETA has also published reports on Andorra, San Marino, Iceland and Ukraine.