GRETA Cheers France's Boost in Child Trafficking Fight

In a newly published report the Council of Europe's Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings (GRETA) has welcomed the measures taken by France to step up its action against trafficking in human beings, while highlighting the need to better identify and assist victims, particularly children, and to protect vulnerable groups from the risk of exploitation.

Expansion of legal aid and staffing praised

The report, which covers the period from 2022 to 2026, assesses the measures taken by France to prevent vulnerabilities to trafficking, detect and assist victims in vulnerable situations and punish traffickers. In doing so, it pays particular attention to the use of information and communication technology.

GRETA notes a number of positive developments since its last evaluation, in particular the removal of the requirement for legal aid applicants to be residing legally in France and the alleviation of the burden of proof for trafficking victims seeking compensation. The authorities have also increased staff numbers at the interministerial taskforce on combating violence against women and human trafficking (MIPROF) and the Central Office for the suppression of trafficking in human beings (OCRTEH).

Recommendations for protecting most vulnerable groups in France

In the third national plan to combat exploitation of and trafficking in human beings (2024-27), children, migrants, persons in socially vulnerable situations and persons with disabilities are identified as the groups which are most vulnerable to risks of exploitation.

GRETA urges the authorities to improve the prevention of trafficking in children and young adults, including in centres run by the child welfare service (ASE) and among unaccompanied minors.

The report also calls on the authorities to amend the relevant legislation to reduce the dependence of migrant workers on their employers and step up oversight of the working and housing conditions of seasonal agricultural workers.

GRETA asks the authorities to take additional measures to prevent asylum seekers from becoming victims of trafficking by improving their social and economic integration and making more places available in the national reception scheme (DNA).

Action online suggested to reduce trafficking of people

The authorities should step up cooperation with tech companies and internet service providers. They should also extend the powers and financial resources of the PHAROS platform to enable it to play an active role in removing and blocking access to unlawful content and to establish a proper procedure for persons concerned to request the removal of content of a sexual nature.

While welcoming the progress made, GRETA calls again on the authorities to improve victim identification and assistance by promptly setting up a national identification and referral mechanism and strengthening proactive control in sectors where there is a high risk of trafficking, especially in agriculture, construction and catering.

The authorities should also ensure that all presumed foreign trafficking victims are systematically informed of the possibility of a recovery and reflection period and take additional measures to ensure that victims of trafficking can fully benefit from the right to obtain a residence permit.

The report states that France remains primarily a country of destination for victims of trafficking in human beings, but is also a country of origin and transit. According to the data available, the number of victims of trafficking and other related offences (such as pimping, exploitation of begging and forced labour) increased from 1,811 in 2021 to 2,127 in 2024. The number of victims of trafficking in the strict sense of the term was 331 in 2021, 362 in 2022, 404 in 2023 and 442 in 2024.