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Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

Description

The purposes of this Convention are to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, protect human rights of the victims of the trafficking, design a framework for the protection and assistance of victims and witnesses.

Summary

Chapter I – Purposes, scope, non‐discrimination principle and definitions

Article 1 – Purposes of the Convention
Article 2 – Scope
Article 3 – Non‐discrimination principle
Article 4 – Definitions

Chapter II – Prevention, co‐operation and other measures

Article 5 – Prevention of trafficking in human beings
Article 6 – Measures to discourage the demand
Article 7 – Border measures
Article 8 – Security and control of documents
Article 9 – Legitimacy and validity of documents

Chapter III – Measures to protect and promote the rights of victims, guaranteeing gender equality

Article 10 ‐ Identification of the victims
Article 11 – Protection of private life
Article 12 – Assistance to victims
Article 13 – Recovery and reflection period
Article 14 – Residence permit
Article 15 – Compensation and legal redress
Article 16 – Repatriation and return of victims
Article 17 – Gender equality

Chapter IV – Substantive criminal law

Article 18 – Criminalisation of trafficking in human beings
Article 19 – Criminalisation of the use of services of a victim
Article 20 ‐ Criminalisation of acts relating to travel or identity documents
Article 21 – Attempt and aiding or abetting
Article 22 – Corporate liability
Article 23 – Sanctions and measures
Article 24 – Aggravating circumstances
Article 25 ‐ Previous convictions
Article 26 – Non‐punishment provision

Chapter V – Investigation, prosecution and procedural law

Article 27 ‐ Ex parte and ex officio applications
Article 28 – Protection of victims, witnesses and collaborators with the judicial authorities
Article 29 – Specialised authorities and co‐ordinating bodies
Article 30 – Court proceedings
Article 31 – Jurisdiction

Chapter VI – International co‐operation and co‐operation with civil society

Article 32 – General principles and measures for international co‐operation
Article 33 ‐ Measures relating to endangered or missing persons
Article 34 – Information
Article 35 – Co‐operation with civil society

Chapter VII – Monitoring mechanism

Article 36 – Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings
Article 37 – Committee of the Parties
Article 38 – Procedure

Chapter VIII – Relationship with other international instruments

Article 39 – Relationship with the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against transnational organised crime
Article 40 – Relationship with other international instruments

Chapter IX – Amendments to the Convention

Article 41 – Amendments

Chapter X – Final clauses

Article 42 – Signature and entry into force
Article 43 – Accession to the Convention
Article 44 – Territorial application
Article 45 – Reservations
Article 46 – Denunciation
Article 47 – Notification