Meeting of the European Network of national anti-trafficking coordinators, on the occasion of the new EU strategy against human trafficking

On the 11th of February 2021, a consultative online meeting of the European Network of the National Rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms was held to discuss preparing a new EU strategy paper. The discussion of a completely different approach to combating human trafficking and protecting the victims is of particular importance, given the migration situation, as well as the various complex methods of committing the crime, especially through the new technologies and Internet tools, and parallel committing financial crimes.

The discussion focused on a coordinated, cross-border approach in response, prevention, and victim protection related to the new challenges that determine the dynamics of crime. Emphasis was also placed on the collection and processing of crime and victim data at the EU level, which can be key, both in terms of investigation and prosecution and in planning targeted preventative initiatives.

On the Bulgarian side, the acting secretary of the NCCTHB, Ms. Dobryana Petkova, and the representative of the Commission's secretariat took part in the meeting. Ms. Petkova drew attention to the need to increase cross-border cooperation and coordination, especially in cases of referral of injured persons, so that a common, working mechanism and guidelines can be built to facilitate joint work on the protection of victims, as in the countries of origin and of destination. "Bulgarian institutions have been working for years on the creation of a unified database, as well as the possibility of providing increasingly high-quality analysis, which is still a challenge, and in this sense, we are ready to join the general discussion on the topic and the solution of this issue with the other member countries."

Other topical aspects of the crime were also addressed during the meeting, including improving international cooperation in joint investigations and effective ways to reduce the demand factor for services provided by victims of trafficking. The involvement of different partners, especially NGO's, and the implementation of public-private partnerships for the prevention and protection of victims was an important focus presented by both the European Commission and the participants. Attention was also paid to the use of modern informational technology to build on the capacity to investigate crime and assist potential victims.