A Meeting of the NCCTHB and a National meeting with the Local structures was held today at the Council of Ministers

The final meeting of the year of the NCCTHB and the national gathering with the Local Commissions took place on 4 December at the Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers today hosted the final 2025 meeting of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB) and the traditional national gathering with the Local Commissions for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, chaired by Mr. Atanas Zafirov, Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the NCCTHB. The two events brought together representatives of key national institutions and local authorities.

“Policies for the prevention and counteraction of human trafficking remain a priority of the highest importance. Bulgaria maintains a stable institutional framework aligned with international standards as well as social and economic trends that directly influence the manifestation of this crime,” stated Mr. Zafirov.

The Secretary of the NCCTHB, Ms. Daniela Saveklieva, presented information on the identified victims of trafficking based on the reports received by the administration, noting that the data will be further consolidated in the annual report of the Commission. Of the 75 identified victims of human trafficking, 44 are women and 31 are men. In terms of the type of exploitation: 26 women were trafficked for sexual exploitation, including one minor; 34 individuals—seven women and 27 men—were victims of labour exploitation. One woman was trafficked for forced marriage, one man for begging, and six individuals for forced subordination and control, including three minors. Seven individuals were identified as being at high risk of exploitation, three of whom are minors.
The 2025 data also includes seven signals related to third-country nationals, involving a total of 17 individuals from Turkmenistan, the Philippines, Kenya, Nigeria, Israel, and Indonesia, connected to labour exploitation and fraud. The NCCTHB notes that in the past two years, reports concerning trafficking victims who are third-country nationals have been increasing.

During the meeting, NCCTHB members discussed the implementation of the National programme for prevention and counteraction of human trafficking and protection of victims for 2025 to date, including numerous prevention initiatives across the country, capacity-building and experience-sharing events, as well as activities related to the implementation of the National Referral Mechanism for support of trafficking victims and the system for specialised protection and assistance. Key challenges during the year were also presented, such as resource shortages in certain regions, trends in trafficking for labour exploitation, and the need for additional training for frontline professionals.

The national meeting with the Local Commissions highlighted the regional perspective. Good practices from awareness campaigns, trainings and field work were shared, along with data on the work of specialised shelters and support units. Representatives of the local structures emphasised the need for sustainable funding and broader involvement of local communities in various activities.

Both events reaffirmed the importance of coordinated efforts between national and local institutions for effective counteraction to human trafficking. Participants outlined the key priorities for the upcoming year: strengthening cross-sector cooperation, expanding training programmes and further developing mechanisms for victim support and protection.