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Introduction

CommitteeThe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is one of two pillars (the other being the Committee of the Parties) monitoring state parties’ implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (the “Anti-Trafficking Convention”). It consists of 15 independent experts who are nationals of states parties to the Convention and have expertise from multiple fields – lawyers, law enforcement, doctors, civil society, and others representing the main legal systems. These experts are charged with evaluating how states are implementing ways to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and promote partnerships with civil society and the international community. Members serve for four years, renewable once; they are led by a President, a first Vice-President and a second Vice-President each serving two-year terms. GRETA, like GREVIO, generally meets at the CoE Headquarters in Strasbourg as often as needed to perform their functions. GRETA divides its monitoring work into rounds to break up how it evaluates implementation of the convention.
GRETA is responsible for (GRETA Rules of Procedure):

  • Requesting state parties to submit to the Secretary General a report on the legislative and other measures they are undertaking to fulfil their commitments to the Anti-Trafficking Convention
  • Adopting a first baseline questionnaire to provide guidance for parties as they prepare their reports
  • Publishing country evaluation reports and adopting findings state parties’ measures
  • If GRETA finds the information submitted to be insufficient, it may organise a country visit to gather more information
  • Adopting general recommendations on themes and concepts of the Anti-Trafficking Convention

iconLockWant more? You can read GRETA’s Rules of Procedure and learn more about its work

Committee of the Parties to the Anti-Trafficking Convention

The Committee of the Parties of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is composed of the representatives on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of the member states parties to the Convention and representatives of the Parties to the Convention, which are not members of the Council of Europe.

The Committee of the Parties may, on the basis of the report and conclusions of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), make recommendations to a Party concerning the measures to be taken as a follow-up to GRETA’s Report.

How does it help tackle violence against women?

Human trafficking takes many different forms and impacts people from all genders and ages, yet a disproportionate number of victims are women. The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings has a wide range of application, covering all types of human trafficking – national or transnational, linked or not to organised crime – and accounts for the various forms of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery and removal of organs. By monitoring states’ implementation of the Convention, GRETA targets the elimination of specific forms of violence against women in law and on the ground.

States Reporting Procedure

 
Through monitoring, GRETA (along with the Committee of the Parties) works to ensure states implement the Anti-Trafficking Convention’s provisions in law and on the ground. Various steps in the states reporting procedure allow GRETA to collect information on state’s progress and impact change:

  1. Reporting. GRETA develops and transmits a questionnaire to the state party under review. The state develops a response to the questionnaire and sends it back for review
  2. Preliminary examination. GRETA meets to discuss the state’s response and other information received by civil society, treaty bodies, etc.
  3. Country visit. GRETA organises a visit to the state under review to hold meetings with governmental and non-governmental (civil society) actors to collect additional information about the practical implementation of the Anti-Trafficking Convention and evaluate this work
  4. GRETA prepares its first draft report. This draft is approved during GREVIO’s meeting and sent to the relevant state party for comment
  5. Final GRETA report is published. GRETA issues final evaluation and findings on the state’s implementation of the Istanbul Convention and sends report to the state and Committee of the Parties for review. During this time, the State under review is also encouraged to transmit the report to its respective Parliament for review and evaluation of country performance
  6. Adoption of recommendations to state party by the Committee of the Parties. The Committee of the Parties reviews GRETA’s final report and issues recommendations to be implemented by the state under review
  7. Implementation of the Committee of the Parties recommendations by the state party

iconStarCivil Society Engagement: Shadow Reports/Parallel Reports

Under the Rules of Procedure for Evaluating Implementation of the Convention, civil society may provide information to GRETA concerning state implementation of the Convention’s provisions. GRETA invites civil society organisations to submit information prior to and throughout the entire country evaluation process.. This information is to be developed in response to GRETA’s questionnaire or may also take the form of a joint report. During the country evaluation visit, GRETA also conducts meetings with representatives from civil society and may choose to visit shelters for trafficking survivors.

iconLockWant more? You can access information about submitting parallel reports on the Anti-Trafficking Convention’s webpage

Additional resources:

Contact Information

Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings
(GRETA and the Committee of the Parties)
Council of Europe
F – 67075 STRASBOURG CEDEX
France

Tel. +33 (0)3 90 21 47 38
trafficking@coe.int

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