Malta must improve anti-trafficking investigations, experts say

The Council of Europe's group of experts on human trafficking, GRETA, has urged the Maltese authorities to speed up the prosecution of offences linked to trafficking in human beings.

The anti-trafficking experts said that most of the criminal cases which have been launched since 2006 are still pending, and called on the Maltese authorities to ensure quicker and more effective investigations and trials, leading to  "proportionate and dissuasive" sanctions.

The report states that only 25 people in Malta were found to be victims of trafficking between 2003 and 2011. 24 of the victims were women, and all were foreign nationals - primarily from Russia, Ukraine and Romania. All 25 were trafficked for sexual exploitation.

However, GRETA believes that these figures may not reflect the true situation, given the lack of a formal procedure for identifying victims.

"Most cases are still pending. GRETA stresses the negative implications of lengthy legal proceedings on the redress of victims of trafficking and urges the Maltese authorities to take measures to ensure that trafficking in human beings is investigated and prosecuted promptly.

"GRETA considers that the knowledge and sensitivity of judges, prosecutors, police investigators and lawyers on trafficking and the rights of victims of trafficking should be improved."

It also urged the authorities to focus more on detecting trafficking for labour exploitation.

GRETA also called on the authorities to adopt a clear framework for the repatriation and return of trafficking victims, and to ensure that all victims are fully able to access the compensation and support which they are entitled to.

Today's report is the first on human trafficking in Malta since the Council of Europe's anti-trafficking convention entered into force there in 2008.

In its response, the Maltese government welcomed the GRETA report by pointing out the appointment of an anti-human trafficking coordinator and the establishment of a Monitoring Committee and a Stakeholders' Taskforce.

The GRETA report also makes reference to Malta's first National Action Plan in this sphere.

"Few cases of human trafficking have been encountered in Malta, but the authorities are making every effort to address this crime. Early in 2012 a Prostitution and Trafficking in Human Beings Unit was set up within the Police Vice Squad. Inspections and other activities to detect potential human trafficking cases are ongoing," the government said.