Trafficking victim numbers remain worryingly high, says Commissioner

Local human rightshuman traffickingTop Newstrafficking Trafficking victim numbers remain worryingly high, says Commissioner B Emporia Prosopon900b Id 1217427 Relevant News Trafficking victim numbers remain worryingly high, says Commissioner 30 July 2026 Man reports shots fired at his car in Nicosia mystery case 30 July 2026 At least eight killed as Russia hits Ukraine, object crashes in Poland 30 July 2026 newsroom 30 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The number of human trafficking victims in Cyprus and the European Union remains worryingly high, Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights Protection Maria Stylianou-Lottidi said. She stressed the need for early identification of victims and meaningful protection for them. She also called for exemplary punishment of perpetrators. Cyprus and EU figures In a statement marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Commissioner said 30 trafficking victims were recognised in Cyprus in 2025, of whom 16 were women and 14 were men, while five traffickers were convicted. She noted, however, that recorded cases do not reveal the true scale of the problem, since many cases are never reported. Citing Eurostat figures, she said the following were recorded across the EU in 2024: 9,678 trafficking victims 7,966 suspected traffickers 2,599 convictions She added that 63% of recorded victims were women or girls, while labour exploitation was numerically on par with sexual exploitation. Challenges and obligations Stylianou-Lottidi said that despite significant progress in the institutional framework, serious challenges remain, including: Under-recognition of victims Difficulty accessing justice Fear of retaliation New forms of exploitation enabled by digital technology Stylianou-Lottidi also cited the 2025 Annual Report of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), which recorded a rapid rise in trafficking cases for the purpose of exploitation in criminal activities across Europe. The Commissioner pointed out that new forms of exploitation are also emerging through artificial intelligence and online fraud, with criminal organisations using advanced technologies to recruit victims. She stressed that tackling human trafficking is not limited to prosecuting perpetrators, but is primarily a matter of protecting human rights. Effective protection, she said, requires the timely identification of victims and their safe access to protection, support and rehabilitation. It also means safeguarding victims’ right to “regain control of their lives, without fear, stigma or re-victimisation.” She underlined that the state has a positive obligation to: Develop effective mechanisms for prevention, identification and protection Strengthen cooperation between the relevant authorities Properly train frontline professionals Equally important, she added, is meaningful cooperation with civil society, which plays a decisive role in supporting victims and raising public awareness. As the National Human Rights Institution, her office monitors the Republic of Cyprus’s compliance with its obligations, the Commissioner said, and promotes a victim-centred approach based on respect for human rights and equal treatment. She called for continued vigilance and collective action: “combating human trafficking is the responsibility of all of us.” Every victim identified and protected, every form of exploitation prevented, and every perpetrator brought to justice, she said, marks a further step toward a society that does not tolerate the exploitation of one person by another. Stylianou-Lottidi concluded by underlining that human dignity is a non-negotiable right, and that the state must be “relentless and unwavering” in punishing offenders. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Man reports shots fired at his car in Nicosia mystery case At least eight killed as Russia hits Ukraine, object crashes in Poland Satellite trackers to follow two Cyprus sea turtles across the Mediterranean Iran to get Chinese shoulder-launched missile systems in weeks, sources say With fields destroyed and hives lost, Gaza’s beekeepers struggle to start over Man, 27, found dead on Protaras beach Japan quake survivors battle thirst, heat as death toll rises to 25 Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.