Executive summary

• Author: Amandine Scherrer
• Pages: 5-7

Detecting and protectin g victims of trafficking in hotspots

I

Executive summary

Trafficking in human beings occurs in every country in the world, and has strong gender dimensions.

In Europe, sexual exploitation is the most widespread form of trafficking, followed by forced labour.

Women and girls comprise the majority of all victims of trafficking. At EU level, most victims of

trafficking are detected in their countries of citizenship. However, trafficking can also have strong

cross-border dimensions.

This study focuses on the issue of trafficking in human beings in the first reception facilities for

migrants and/or refugees coming into the EU by sea that are operated in Greece and Italy as part of

the EU 'hotspot approach' launched in 2015. Currently nine hotspots are located on the EU's external

borders under this approach, for the initial reception, identification and registration of asylum-

seekers and other migrants: five are located in Greece and four in Italy.

In the context of the ongoing migration crisis, it is more than likely that among the migrants and

refugees seeking international protection after reaching EU shores by sea (a large number of whom

come from conflict zones), many have been victims of trafficking already in their countries of origin.

Furthermore, during their journeys to Europe, asylum-seekers and migrants are exposed to

additional risks of exploitation. Therefore, the study analyses the difficulties related to victim

detection in hotspots.

While in theory this stage in a migrant or refugee's arrival in Europe provides the first opportunity

to detect victims of trafficking and ensure an adequate follow-up procedure, the task of detecting

victims of trafficking is fraught with many practical difficulties. Furthermore, the risks of trafficking

do not disappear when migrants and refugees reach EU soil. While waiting in hotspots for their

papers to be processed, they are still at risk of falling victim to exploitative individuals and/or

networks. Most of the hotspots are not designed in a protection-sensitive manner and all people

staying in hotspot facilities, but especially women and children, can end up in dangerous situations.

The study therefore looks at the extent to which measures are taken to prevent exploitation and

violence.

At EU level, trafficking in human beings is recognised as a violation of fundamental rights and is

explicitly prohibited by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Many efforts have been made to step

up the fight against trafficking, and since 2009 these efforts have been coordinated by an EU anti-

trafficking coordinator. In the specific context of hotspots, Member States have full responsibility for

setting up and managing reception and registration infrastructure. When it comes to the detection

of victims of trafficking, they nonetheless have to comply with a number of EU requirements, as set

out in the Anti-Trafficking Directive, the Reception Conditions Directive and the Qualification

Directive.

In practice, a considerable number of actors are involved in the procedures for identifyi ng

vulnerabilities. These include national authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), EU

agencies and international organisations. As the hotspot is usually the first place where migrants

have a chance to have their vulnerability recognised, the roles of the actors involved in the process

of vulnerability screening is key. The identification and referral of vulnerable people is thus a shared

responsibility of all actors operating in the hotspo ts.

The living conditions in hotspots in Italy and Greece are very different, and the study takes due

consideration of these specificities.

The situation in Greece

The five Greek hotspots are located on the islands of Chios, Kos, Leros, Lesvos and Samos. In

March 2016, an agreement was concluded between the EU and Turkey (the 'EU- Turkey Statement'),

according to which all new irregular migrants and asylum-seekers arriving from Turkey on the Greek