The Council of Europe (CoE) called for greater action to prevent child trafficking in Strasbourg, France on Tuesday during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The council’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) joined voices with the UN-mandated Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Human Beings (ICAT) to demand more action in reducing child trafficking and in offering support to victims.

ICAT put out a statement reporting that “one in three identified victims of trafficking in persons is a child” and that more than half are trafficked in their own countries. Poverty, lack of education, discrimination, gender inequality, conflicts, displacement and statelessness leave children vulnerable and can put them at risk of becoming trafficked. Children who are trafficked are exposed to forced labour, sexual exploitation, crime, illegal adoption and recruitment into armed forces.

ICAT previously released a Call for Accelerated Action by 2025 to Prevent and End Child Trafficking in 2023, which calls on states to complete ten actions by 2025 to put a stop to child trafficking worldwide. This includes implementing protection systems and services, deterring traffickers, securing online child safety, addressing risk factors and confronting lack of awareness and knowledge in child trafficking.

GRETA President Helga Gayer said the Call for Accelerated Action by 2025 to Prevent and End Child Trafficking is in line with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which contributes to protecting children from trafficking. Gayer mentioned that states must respect their legal obligations, improve cooperation, and identify victims in the best interests and rights of children.

The Council of Europe is one of Europe’s top human rights organizations. It was founded in 1949, has 46 member states and focuses on the European Convention of Human Rights. The CoE promotes human rights and the rule of law in Europe as well as fights violence, child sexual abuse, discrimination, racism, human trafficking, terrorism, torture and organ trafficking. The council has developed 200 binding treaties that protect people from torture, violence and sexual abuse. The member states have ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which was adopted in 2005 and has been imposed since 2008.