Andorra has made progress in the development of a legal, institutional and policy framework to combat human trafficking, but should take additional measures to identify potential victims, according to a report issued today by the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).
In its third report evaluating Andorra's implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, GRETA welcomes the adoption in 2021 of a Strategic Policy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Another positive development is the broadening of the scope of the crime of trafficking in human beings to include forced labour, forced services and forced begging. The report also welcomes the introduction in 2021 of a regulation entitling victims of trafficking to free legal aid, regardless of their residence status, and the adoption of a specific legal provision on the non-punishment of victims of trafficking.
For the first time since the entry into force of the convention in Andorra in 2011, a presumed victim of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation was identified in the country in 2021. While the courts ultimately decided not to classify the offence as trafficking in human beings, GRETA welcomes the authorities' efforts to treat the person concerned as a victim of trafficking and to bring the case to justice.
The report notes that due to the strong demand for foreign labour, there are risks of labour exploitation in the country, in particular in the sectors of domestic work, seasonal work, construction and agriculture. The authorities are also attentive to possible cases of human trafficking for the purpose of forced criminality.
