To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the Committee against Modern Slavery (Comité Contre l’Esclavage Moderne, CCEM) organized a colloquium titled “30 Years of Fighting to Make the Invisible Visible” in Paris on November 15, 2024. The event brought together distinguished speakers, including Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings; Cyril Cosmes, Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Office in Paris; Magali Lafourcade, Secretary General of the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH); and Roxana Maracineanu, Secretary General of the Interministerial Task Force on Combatting Violence against Women and Human Trafficking (MIPROF).
Petya Nestorova emphasized the increasing global challenge of trafficking for labour exploitation, stating: “The statistics in the Council of Europe Group of Experts (GRETA) reports show that trafficking for labour exploitation has risen significantly, becoming the most prevalent form of exploitation in many countries. Addressing this issue demands coordinated efforts among states, civil society, trade unions, and the private sector.”
The Council of Europe has developed comprehensive standards to combat human trafficking. In September 2022, its Committee of Ministers adopted a recommendation specifically addressing trafficking for labour exploitation. This guidance is supported by GRETA’s monitoring activities, a Compendium of Good Practices, a Guidance Note on preventing and combating trafficking for labour exploitation, and European Court of Human Rights case law.
Civil society organizations like CCEM are pivotal in this effort. They raise public awareness, identify victims, provide essential support, and guide them through the criminal justice process. Moreover, their contributions to GRETA reports strengthen the monitoring and implementation of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention.