Focus Group of specialised prosecutors against trafficking in human beings

The third meeting of the THB Focus Group: - brought together specialised prosecutors and investigating judges from the EU Member States, third countries and representatives from Eurojust, the European Commission, Europol, the European Multidisciplinary Platform against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and the private sector; - aimed at exchanging views, experiences and best practices in the investigation. [...] The main changes and amendments include: the extension of the scope of the Directive to the exploitation of surrogacy, of forced marriage and of illegal adoption; mandatory criminalisation of the knowing use of the services of trafficked persons; strengthened position of victims; mandatory national coordinators and actions plans as well as mandatory EU-wide data collection. [...] The investigation was innovatively based on the crime of Trafficking in Human Beings to restrain the criminal phenomenon and to identify the responsibility of the adults involved. [...] As a result, 8 members of the OCG – including the 2 leaders – were arrested and subsequently prosecuted for offences related to the formation and membership of a criminal organization, human trafficking, mediation in the adoption of a minor by profession, violations of the law on the application of medically assisted reproduction, forgery, disturbing family order, fraud, bodily harm and violation. [...] The participants welcomed the choice of topics discussed in today’s meeting, the case studies and the presentations from the private sector.