The EESC broadly supports the EU's new 2021-2025 strategy against trafficking in human beings, but also calls attention to the need to incorporate the social dimension into the policy.

When it comes to victims' rights and the social dimension, the new EU strategy on the fight to uproot trafficking falls short. The EESC feels that the situation of victims is not addressed in a consistently humane way throughout the strategy.

As Carlos Manuel Trindade, EESC rapporteur, pointed out, "Human trafficking leads to huge suffering among victims: it is an attack on dignity. That is why the social dimension should be taken on board in this fight."

With both profits and victims on the rise, the EESC welcomes the Commission's position that the Anti-Trafficking Directive must be implemented in all Member States and reviewed on the basis of a thorough assessment of the limitations identified and developments in human trafficking.

Furthermore, the EESC highlights the need to improve sanctions and endorses the establishment of minimum standards at EU level that criminalise networks involved in the whole process of trafficking and exploiting human beings.

Factoring the social dimension into the implementation of the strategy

The plan completely fails to provide for the recognition and enforcement of victims' rights, which should be a core concern in affirming human dignity and human rights. Victims should be granted the right to be integrated into the host society, by means of an appropriate, fast-track integration process.

The opinion also highlights the need to create decent and adequate economic and social conditions for people in the countries of origin, the main way of curbing or preventing the recruitment of trafficking victims.

Lastly, the new strategy should recognise the significant support provided by community solidarity networks in protecting, welcoming and integrating victims and the work carried out by civil society organisations. (at)