GRETA, the Council of Europe anti-trafficking group published a report on Bulgaria, for the period 2020-2024, examining measures adopted to support vulnerable people, to prevent trafficking in human begins, detect and punish offenders. The report noted a rise in the identified victims of forced labor, concerning mostly men, but sexual exploitation of women and girls remains the predominant form of exploitation of the identified victims of human trafficking in Bulgaria.
It noted also that asylum seekers and refugees face significant risks due to their socio-economical challenges but awareness increased on the risks for migrant workers. GRETA emphasised the need for Bulgarian authorities to focus on prevention of child trafficking, especially in view of online methods of recruitment.
GRETA appreciated the measures adopted to raise awareness and prevent trafficking for Ukrainian refugees and encouraged the authorities to continue these efforts.
However, it reiterated the heightened risks for migrant workers and called for further steps to prevent trafficking. It also recommended to ensure sustainability of the national human-trafficking hotline, considered an instrument for early detection. It also suggested to align the national definition of trafficking in human beings with the international consensus and introduce the concept of ‘abuse of a position of vulnerability’ in the criminalisation of trafficking.