1) Measure - Assessment of THB Trends
Timeframe of the Assessment Period: 2011-2013 (& 2014)
Objectives
I. Present and Future-Oriented Assessment:
Greece is a transit and destination country for victims, trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. As Greece is one of the main entry points for migration flows into Europe, potential victims of trafficking may be identified amongst the undocumented migrants entering the country. The global financial crisis has only compounded the already complex problem of THB: widespread unemployment and a drastic decline in opportunities result in desperate situations, both in countries of origin and of destination, where people are prone to take risks and have few viable alternatives.
On a national level there have been intensive efforts to fight THB, following a comprehensive approach that includes legislative reforms, inter-agency coordination, a more inclusive protection regime for victims, public awareness campaigns and partnership with stakeholders from major international organizations, as well as from countries of origin, transit and destination. Towards this end, the new legal framework (transposition of the 2011/36/EU Directive with the Law 4198/2013 (215/A΄/2013), establishes the Office of the National Rapporteur (MFA) and gives an official mandate of accountability to the previously informal Coordination Mechanism of competent Ministries, International Organizations and accredited NGOs. This is promoting a better cooperation between the competent authorities and stakeholders, and facilitates the national ownership of internationally acknowledged best practices against THB. Through National Structural Funds (ESPA), ISEC, ISF and other EC Funds, the Office of the National Rapporteur (ONR) is coordinating competent State, NGO, Private and Cultural sector stakeholders, towards a large-scale, multi-disciplinary anti-THB Action Plan in Prevention, Prosecution, Protection and Partnership.
Identification and Protection of victims remains a major priority. The existing tools are being revised with the view to identify more victims of THB, as well as to increase the tools’ effectiveness in identifying minors victims of THB, as most of the identification tools have been constructed for adults.
Statistics of identified victims and perpetrators are important for planning future actions and awareness raising campaigns. However, the main challenge is that the numbers of identified victims and the numbers of convictions for traffickers, are still not proportionate of the existing problem.
In 2014, less victims of THB were identified than previous years, while from 2010 to 2013 the number of identified victims remained stable (ranging from 92 to 99). Similarly, in 2014 fewer perpetrators were prosecuted comparing to previous years. The number of identified perpetrators has been decreasing from 2010 onwards. This may imply that traffickers have resorted to new, tacit means of exploitation and that their new modus operandi is more difficult to be detected and prevented. Moreover, more often than before traffickers are choosing different routes other than Greece. As concerns the type of THB most often identified, labor and sexual exploitation still consist the majority of identified cases. Most female victims were recruited by their “partner” who falsely promised that he could offer jobs to Greece as domestic workers or waitresses. The victim’s usual profile is poor, un-educated, had to work from childhood and were unemployed at the time of recruitment. Most of the victims originate from EU countries (Bulgaria and Romania) and travelled along with their recruiter to Greece. Male victims is an increasing new trend and are primarily trafficked for labor exploitation in the field of agriculture.
In the majority of cases, the Trafficker’s nationality is Greek, Albanian, Bulgarian and Romanian. Perpetrators from Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Bosnia, and Turkey were also prosecuted. A few perpetrators from African countries, such as Nigeria, have also been prosecuted. In 2014, three perpetrators from Syria were also identified.
Although most cases involve male perpetrators, an alarming new trend is the significant number of women recruiters. Usually, female traffickers were initially recruited as victims, and in the process they were granted certain concessions and benefits, in return for their collaboration in recruiting new victims, keeping under control, or mentoring new victims. Female victims continue to appear in greater numbers than male victims (with the exception of 2013, when more male victims of THB were identified).
Only four female minors have been identified as victims of THB in 2014. Most commentators and grass-root organizations, however agree that this number may be much higher, given the thousands of unaccompanied minors entering Greece at risk of being exploited. The identification process for minor victims of THB is currently being revised. Children’s language and behavioral pattern under stress, pressure or traumatic events, may be different to a great extent than those of adults.
According to official statistics (attached below), the predominant trafficking route originates from eastern European countries, towards western European countries. Over the last years however, two additional routes are often used by traffickers: a) from southeastern Asia to Europe, and b) from Western Africa to Europe. Syria which came up in 2014 statistics has been suffering a severe civil war during the last 3 years, a fact that demonstrates that armed conflict conditions, increases vulnerability and the risk of being trafficked.
II. Analyze the different trends of THB (such as on victims and traffickers disaggregated by gender, age and citizenship, various forms of exploitation, new and emerging trends, modus operandi, Organized Crime Groups, national and transnational THB, involvement of legal persons, recruitment of victims, means used, profile trafficker/facilitator, higher risk sectors, estimates of profit and money flows, demand)
Official THB statistics show that the phenomenon is still a serious threat to human security and calls for a multi-faceted and systematic response from all competent stakeholders. Specialized training and inter-agency cooperation among all stakeholders involved in first level identification and victim referral, as well as in law enforcement and prosecution, is the most effective means to combat THB.
Greece remains a destination and transit country in the threefold “recruitment – transportation – exploitation” modus operandi of THB. In a few cases, recruitment, transportation and exploitation takes place internally (internal THB).
A closer inspection at the attached statistical data during the period between 2011-2013, reveals the following pattern: an increase is observed from 2011 to 2012, while from 2012 to 2013 a decrease is noted. A decrease in the number of victims and perpetrators is also observed.
The same applies for Organized Crime Groups: from 2011 to 2012 there has been an increase in the OCGs, active in the field of THB, while for the period 2012- 2013 there has been a decrease. In most cases, OCGs operated transnationally, involving both Greeks and foreign perpetrators.
· Commercial Sexual exploitation
Human Trafficking for sexual exploitation remains the predominant manifestation of this heinous crime in Greece. This is confirmed by comparing sex trafficking to other forms of exploitation during the aforementioned period.
Taking advantage of the victims’ vulnerable conditions, recruiters manage to persuade them to consent to their travelling to Greece. Upon their arrival, traffickers gradually reveal their real intentions and force victims to prostitution by using a wide range of exploitative means (use of physical and psychological violence, threats against them or their family members, withholding their travelling documents, blackmail through debt bondage, making victims “their partners” in the whole procedure of exploitation- collusion control).
In their attempt to legalise the victims’ status in Greece, traffickers use forged documents or take advantage of existing laws. In some cases, they arrange fake marriages with Greek citizens, so as victims can acquire their right to apply for resident permit as “legally married to a Greek citizen.”
In the majority of cases perpetrators act on their own (“lover boy”). In 2012, 10 out of 37 cases of sexual exploitation, operated under the umbrella of OCGs, a figure showing that many perpetrators had separate roles and were active over a period of time.
The majority of victims for commercial sexual exploitation originate from: Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Nigeria. Their ages range from 20 to 30 years old.
· Trafficking for Labour exploitation
In labour trafficking, perpetrators approach potential victims and take advantage of their vulnerable living conditions. Traffickers make false promises for profitable jobs, accommodation etc, and manage to persuade victims to consent to their travelling to Greece.
Upon arrival to the “work place”, perpetrators keep victims under strict control, by means of constant threat of violence, humiliation and mostly debt bondage (travelling documents are also withheld). In most cases, labour exploitation takes place in the agricultural field (harvesting oranges, strawberries etc).
Based on cases investigated by the Hellenic Police, labour exploitation takes place under the umbrella of OCGs that are mostly transnational. For instance an OCG, active in THB labour exploitation, consisted by Romanian and Greek nationals, with a clear ‘division’ of separate roles: Romanians in recruiting, and transferring victims to Greece and Greeks in exploiting their labour. Such OCGs are mostly specializing in this specific field of forced labour.
Forced labour statistics demonstrate a clear increase, especially during certain seasons of the year. Namely, in periods of harvesting oranges, apricots, strawberries etc, the demand for “cheap labour” is increased and traffickers answer that demand and ‘supply’ victims.
· Exploitation in forced begging
The recruitment of victims for exploitation in forced begging is another facet of THB occurring in Greece.
Statistics show that in 2011 and 2012, forced begging was increased, while from 2012 to 2013 the situation has remained stable. In some cases, perpetrators were active as an OCG. In the majority of cases, perpetrators and victims were Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, from the ROMA community.
Perpetrators approach potential victims, especially those with physical and mental disabilities, transfer them to Greece and force them to begging in several public spaces (shopping malls, traffic lights, metro station etc).
· Child Trafficking
Child trafficking in Greece concerns unaccompanied minors (girls and boys) who are recruited by perpetrators and are trafficked to Greece for further exploitation. The age of young victims ranges from 15 to 18 years old.
Perpetrators recruit young girls and by falsifying their IDs so as to verify that they are adults, transfer them to Greece for commercial sexual exploitation. There have been cases of entire families with minor members, who have been exploited by traffickers.
Greek law enforcement authorities have investigated cases related to exploitation of minors in forced begging. The victims (boys and girls) originate from the ROMA community and their parents either force them to begging or, in some cases, children are “sold” to other ROMA, so as to exploit their begging. In the majority of such cases, both victims and perpetrators were ROMA from Bulgaria and Romania.
· Involvement of “legal persons”
The Police financial investigations produced clear evidence that OCGs active primarily in the field of commercial sexual exploitation, established legal businesses and companies as “legal persons” with the intention to launder the great amount of money, gained from those illegal activities.
· New and emerging trends
Traffickers are taking advantage of new sophisticated technology and on-line recruitment methods through the extensive use of the internet and social media networks (“virtual” job opportunities etc). The Internet is also a formidable platform for communicating their “supply of products” to a vast audience that demands the “consumption” of prostitution and pornography. Hence, commercial sexual exploitation, has been largely carried out by traffickers through on line chats, blogs and advertisements “promoting” the sexual services of their victims into the legal prostitution market.
III. Inform actors working in the field of THB (public and private authorities, civil society organizations, researchers and others) in order to take adequate policy measures.
The mandate of the National Rapporteur Office is precisely to “bring-in” more partnerships and facilitate synergies among all actors and stakeholders involved in combating THB. Towards that end, the NRO has recently launched several ongoing initiatives and important meetings resulting into the establishment of a permanent Consultation Forum with Civil Society actors, a permanent Coordination Mechanism with public authorities, a Memorandum of Cooperation with the CSR Network representing the Private Sector, an agreement with the Ministry of Education to introduce THB awareness raising lessons in the courses of Human Rights and Sexual Education and an Agreement with the Local Administration and Municipalities to join forces against THB with major cities in Europe. The 15 public authorities of the National Coordination Mechanism, include senior officials and agencies from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Citizens’ Protection, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Mass Media, Ministry of Labor, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM Greece).
IV. Details of assessment – please specify and elaborate in each case
Methodology- Reports-Statistics/Common Guidelines & Procedures of the identification of victims of trafficking (ISEC project)/ IOM Handbook on Direct Assistance to Victims of Trafficking/IOM Caring for Trafficked Persons (Guidance for Health Providers)
Inclusion of statistics- Yes; attached below
Who carried out the assessment and which organizations and/or stakeholders have been involved?
The National Rapporteur Office in cooperation with state agencies from the National Coordination Mechanism and Civil Society organizations from the NRO Consultation Forum.
List sources that have been used such as analytical reports of law enforcement services, reports by NGOs, EU agencies, academic studies, international organizations etc?
All of the above
Dissemination and Use of the Results – please provide details such as publication on website, distribution to parliament for discussion, distribution to stakeholders etc.
The mandate of the ONR is to disseminate all relevant information both as it concerns state authorities and civil society. Assessment of policies and recommendations about shortcomings in the implementation, are submitted regularly both to parliament and to the political & administrative leadership of all the ministries and agencies participating in our National Coordination Mechanism. The same communication policy is true for the websites and social media networks of all the partnering civil society stakeholders, including NGOs.
Dissemination and use of results is also a quintessential part of our ‘train the trainers’ actions. For example, the Office of National Rapporteur in partnership with IOM Greece acted as the two national focal points for the EurotrafGuid ISEC Project entitled “Common Guidelines and Practical tools for first level identification of victims of human trafficking”. Deliverables of the project included the Good Practice Report and “Common Guidelines & Procedures of the identification of victims of trafficking” and three separate tool kits for the first level identification of victims of trafficking: one on commercial sexual exploitation, one on labour exploitation and a third one on forced begging and exploitation in illicit activities. The material produced is being used for training of front-line professionals throughout Greece (e.g. more than 800 police officers have been trained with this manuals through the ‘1109’ referral mechanism )