Study on reviewing the functioning of Member States' National and Transnational Referral Mechanisms : executive summary

The current study is a key action of the 2017 Commission Communication stepping up EU action to address trafficking in human beings, under Priority B - Improving access to and realisation of the rights of the victims of trafficking in human beings. In October 2018, the European Commission published a call for tenders for a Study on "Reviewing the Functioning of Member States' National and Transnational Referral Mechanisms." According to the Tender Specifications, the Study was expected to: give an overview of the situation in all EU Member States as to the functioning of the national (NRM) and, where relevant, transnational referral mechanisms (TRM); provide good practices, models and examples of the functioning of the NRMs and TRMs; provide specific recommendations with respect to improving the functioning of the NRMs and TRMs for the interest of victims, with a view to helping Member States when implementing the EU Anti-trafficking Directive and advising the European Commission. The objective of the Study was to provide information with respect to the functioning of formal or informal referral mechanisms in place, in the context of ensuring access to and realisation of the rights of victims of THB. While seeking the response to this question, the study was to adopt a human-rights based, victim-centred, gender- specific and child-sensitive approach. The current report is the result of this EU-wide effort, encompassing an extensive review of available sources and fieldwork in 28 EU Member States, conducted in accordance with the Tender Specifications and feedback from the European Commission.