A total of 29 convictions for human trafficking offences were recorded in Cyprus between 2020 and 2026, according to police data. However, Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights Protection Maria Stylianou Lottides stressed that the figure does not necessarily reflect the true scale of the problem.
In a message marking the European Anti-Trafficking Day, Lottides highlighted the need for the timely identification of victims and meaningful protection measures, regardless of whether victims have been officially recognised or cooperate with authorities.
Children among the most vulnerable victims
The Commissioner referred to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which found that 38 per cent of trafficking victims identified worldwide in 2022 were children.
"These are children whose exploitation deprives them not only of their freedom, but also of their childhood itself," she said.
Delays in victim identification
Lottides noted that the latest evaluation of Cyprus by GRETA, the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, highlighted the need for earlier victim identification and recorded delays in the formal recognition process.
Such delays, she warned, may leave victims without critical assistance and protection.
A hidden crime
According to the Commissioner, human trafficking remains one of the most serious crimes against human dignity and often remains hidden from public view.
It frequently occurs behind closed doors, in workplaces, private homes and through new forms of exploitation facilitated by technology.
"Behind every case there are not simply numbers, but human lives, including children," she said.
Lottides added that 18 October serves as a reminder that thousands of people continue to be deprived of their dignity, freedom and autonomy through exploitation, coercion and violence.
The ‘crime of silence’
The Commissioner stressed that victims must be identified early and protected at every stage, irrespective of official recognition or cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
Many victims, she noted, never report their exploitation because of:
- Fear of retaliation.
- Economic and psychological dependence.
- Threats of deportation.
- Distrust of authorities.
- Trauma resulting from their experiences.
She described human trafficking as a "crime of silence", noting that many victims remain trapped in exploitation without ever filing a complaint.
"The absence of a complaint does not mean the absence of exploitation," she said.
Nor, she added, should a victim's silence ever be interpreted as consent.
Protection should not depend on legal proceedings
According to Lottides, the state must have mechanisms capable of identifying signs of exploitation early and activating protection measures immediately, rather than expecting victims to prove their vulnerability themselves.
Protection, she argued, should not begin only after a person has been formally recognised as a victim, nor should it depend on cooperation with law enforcement or the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Instead, support should extend across all stages, from the identification of a potential victim through to their recovery and reintegration.
Such support should include:
- Safe accommodation.
- Information and guidance.
- Legal assistance.
- Medical care.
- Psychological support.
- Opportunities for social and economic reintegration.
Focus on children and vulnerable groups
Lottides also highlighted the need for special attention to children and people facing multiple forms of vulnerability.
She said protection measures should take into account factors such as:
- Gender.
- Age.
- Disability.
- Migration status.
- Individual personal circumstances.
Need for better coordination
The Commissioner warned that communication gaps, administrative delays and a lack of continuity between services continue to create weaknesses in victim protection.
While public authorities may operate through different procedures and jurisdictions, she said, for victims protection and justice can be a matter of life and death.
She also pointed to issues previously identified by her office, including:
- The vulnerability of foreign workers.
- Victims' access to their rights after recognition.
- Support for women who have experienced sexual exploitation.
- Difficulties created when different administrative procedures affect the protection of the same individual.
Recognition alone is not enough
"The recognition of a person as a victim does not automatically mean that they are protected," Lottides said.
Likewise, she noted, the existence of a legal right does not necessarily guarantee its full enjoyment in practice.
Beyond prosecuting traffickers
In closing, the Commissioner reaffirmed her office's commitment to combating human trafficking through investigations, the identification of systemic weaknesses and awareness and training initiatives for relevant services.
She stressed that combating trafficking cannot be limited to punishing offenders.
It also requires a system capable of identifying victims promptly, providing effective protection and ensuring the conditions necessary for their recovery and reintegration.
Source: CNA
