Filenews 20 July 2022
The Department of Justice welcomes with satisfaction the upgrading of Cyprus by the U.S. State Department in its annual report on Trafficking in Persons.
As it states in an announcement, "this year's upgrade of Cyprus by the US State Department to Category 1 in its annual report on trafficking in persons is a very positive development.
The previous state department report for the period April 2020 – March 2021 highlighted gaps and shortcomings in the areas of investigation, bringing suspects to justice and documenting cases before the courts. The main reason for the downgrading of Cyprus to Category 2 in last year's report was the lack of judicial convictions in the last three years under the Anti-Trafficking Act.
The Ministry, in cooperation with the Police, after studying the findings of the report, proceeded in a targeted manner to take a series of measures to address the gaps and shortcomings highlighted in the report, always in consultation and cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, the Legal Service and all stakeholders.
Everyone's efforts have been systematised and intensified, with the result that in the last year we have eight convictions for trafficking offences provided for in the very strict law.
Since March 2021, the police have been operating the telephone line 1497, where citizens can make complaints or receive information on issues of trafficking in persons.
The Minister calls on all citizens to communicate directly in 1497 because in the fight against trafficking in persons we need society as our ally.
Given the dangers posed by the war in Ukraine for sexual or labour exploitation of Ukrainian refugees, we are constantly vigilant, conducting checks in high-risk areas, to identify suspicious behaviours or actions.
Particularly important for the effort made by the Ministry of The PSI for the effective fight against trafficking in persons and for the protection of victims, is the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Police and the Social Welfare Services, for the referral, handling, protection and information of potential and recognized victims of trafficking in persons, signed by the Minister of The TI and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, on 24/1/2022.
Ms. Drakou expresses her special thanks to Ms. Anthousi and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Legal Service for their significant contribution to this effort.
At the same time, the Minister congratulates on this occasion the responsible person and all the staff of this Office, as well as the Head of the Human Rights Section and the officers of the Ministry of Human Rights, for the continuous efforts they make to prevent and deal with this serious form of crime.
In any case, the new report by the US State Department does not reassure us. Recognizing the seriousness of this serious form of crime, we assure that its recommendations will be studied in depth and additional support measures will be taken to increase the effectiveness of our actions to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings.
We will all continue together with the same zeal the policy of zero tolerance towards the phenomena of trafficking in persons and we will make every effort to identify victims and perpetrators and bring the perpetrators to justice."
CNA
