Today, July 30th — World Day Against Human Trafficking — Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis and Deputy Minister Ioannis Bougas presented to the Cabinet a landmark legislative initiative to incorporate Directive 2024/1712 on the prevention and combating of human trafficking (trafficking).
The key pillars of the new anti-trafficking regulations
The core pillars of the Directive’s regulations are as follows:
· A broader definition of exploitation, designed to more accurately capture modern forms of trafficking, including domestic servitude, coercion into criminal activity, and forced begging.
· Strengthened protections against digital forms of exploitation.
· Enhanced safeguards for victims throughout criminal proceedings, both by reinforcing guarantees against secondary victimization and by expanding access to psychological support during testimonies.
· A reinforced non-punishment principle, ensuring that victims are not prosecuted for illegal acts they were compelled to commit as a result of their exploitation.
· Improved victim access to free legal aid and compensation, alongside closer cooperation between support agencies and their European counterparts to facilitate cross-border referrals and victim protection.
