In its third report on Cyprus, the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) analyses trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies and examines progress in the implementation of previous GRETA recommendations. The report acknowledges that in recent years Cyprus has taken some positive steps to improve its legislation and policies to combat trafficking in human beings. In 2019, amendments were made to the anti-trafficking legislation, increasing significantly the penalties for human trafficking and criminalising the use of sexual services of victims of trafficking. The Multidisciplinary Co-ordinating Group adopted a new National Action Plan against human trafficking for 2019-2021. Further, a National Referral Mechanism for the identification and referral to assistance of victims of trafficking was established in 2016. However, GRETA is concerned that during the period under review (2015-2019), no legal aid has been provided to trafficking victims, and only two applications for legal aid for the purpose of claiming compensation have been approved by the Attorney General’s Office. There are no examples of compensation granted by decision of a criminal court judge in human trafficking cases. Furthermore, the setting up of the victim support fund, which can be used to compensate victims of trafficking, has been delayed, and no victim of trafficking has so far received state compensation in Cyprus. GRETA therefore calls on the Cypriot authorities to ensure that victims receive specialised legal assistance and free legal aid at an early stage of criminal proceedings, and to set up a victim support fund as a priority. GRETA further urges the authorities to facilitate and guarantee access to compensation from perpetrators, including by collecting evidence about the harm the victim has suffered and the financial gain from the exploitation, as part of criminal investigations.

post

page

attachment

revision

nav_menu_item

custom_css

customize_changeset

oembed_cache

user_request

wp_block

acf-field-group

acf-field

ai1ec_event

Adult Modern Slavery Protocol for Local Authorities: NRM Process Guide for Local Authorities
Guidance

This guide accompanies the Local Authorities’ Referral Process Pathway for Adult Victims of Modern Slavery. This guide provides non-prescriptive steps to follow when a potential victim of human trafficking or modern slavery is identified. It shoul...Read More

TAGS: Europe
Counter-trafficking Regional and Global Statistics at a glance
GuidanceStandards & Codes of ConductGood PracticesGraphics & Infographics

This report provides statistics and minor analysis regarding the demographics of those trafficked in 2015.

TAGS: Global
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, The Council, and The European Economic and Social Committee: On decent work worldwide for a global just transition and a sustainable recovery
Guidance

According to the latest global estimates, 160 million children worldwide are in child labour. That is one in ten children in the world, and their number is growing. Nearly half of these children are performing hazardous work. At the same time, 25 mi...Read More

Addressing Business Model Related Human Rights Risks
Guidance

The UN Guiding Principles on Business on Human Rights (UNGPs) provide a principled and pragmatic framework to address situations in which the most serious risks to people are inherent to the business models of technology companies. They offer a set ...Read More