In a new report the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) calls on the Hungarian authorities to take further action against human trafficking, notably by improving the assistance provided to victims of trafficking and their access to legal aid and compensation, and by strengthening measures to combat trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.
The report notes that the number of identified human trafficking victims in Hungary (754 victims in 2019-2022) significantly increased compared to the period covered by GRETA's second evaluation report. Most identified victims were women, while children represented around 16%. Sexual exploitation remains the main form of exploitation, but trafficking for labour exploitation has increased.
The report notes a number of positive developments since the publication of GRETA's second evaluation report on Hungary as regards the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. These include the adoption of a new National Anti-Trafficking Strategy, as well as guidelines issued by the Office of the Prosecutor General to facilitate the detection and prosecution of human trafficking cases.
GRETA is concerned than only a few victims of trafficking have received compensation from the perpetrators or the state and urges the authorities to systematically inform victims of their right to claim compensation, to make full use of the existing legislation on the seizure and confiscation of criminal assets, as well as to simplify the application procedures for state compensation.
The report notes that the number of prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking and related offences has increased in recent years. However, a number of gaps remain in the criminal justice response to human trafficking. GRETA considers that the authorities should ensure that human trafficking offences for different forms of exploitation, including cases involving domestic servitude, are proactively and promptly investigated.
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