The the Trafficking in Persons Report of the US State Department has been published

According to the report, Bulgaria has made significant efforts in countering trafficking in human beings compared to the previous reporting period. Bulgaria is again part of the countries set out in Group 2 of the Report on Trafficking in Human Beings of the US State Department, which make significant efforts to counter the crime but fail to fully meet the minimum standards for its elimination.

Bulgaria continues to be a predominantly country of origin for victims of trafficking in human beings, mainly to countries of Western Europe, and to a much lesser extent is a destination for the exploitation of foreign citizens. Less characteristic is the domestic traffic that takes place on the territory of the country.

The report shows that our country has invested efforts and financial resources in the protection of children affected by trafficking in the implementation of the National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, which should be evaluated and renewed this year, in the implementation of the National Annual Programme, as well as through international cooperation and specifically intergovernmental actions to prevent trafficking in human beings for labor exploitation with some of the countries of destination.

The report makes recommendations to increase the effectiveness of investigations and prosecutions of crime, as well as to increase effective sentencing. Our country should make additional efforts in collecting and summarizing data related to the identified victims of trafficking in human beings, building a sustainable mechanism for financing services for victims, as well as in improving the qualification of specialists related to counteracting the problem. The full report can be found here.