Cyprus has a fully institutionalised National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings, supported by a combination of legislative and administrative acts, according to a report published on Monday through the EU Anti-Trafficking Hub.
The report, prepared on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, highlights that Cyprus is also among eight EU Member States that reported having a fully designated national contact point for the cross-border referral of victims.
According to the report, Cyprus is currently reviewing its national legal and procedural framework for combating trafficking in human beings, with particular emphasis on the early identification of victims, clarification of the responsibilities of the authorities and organisations involved, child protection, updating guidelines and strengthening cooperation between services.
The report notes that standardised procedures, regular communication between services and cooperation in managing individual cases contribute to the coordination of Cyprus’ referral mechanism.
However, it also identifies challenges related to the differing responsibilities, operational priorities and capacities of the authorities and organisations involved.
It further highlights the need for continuous training of frontline personnel, consistent implementation of referral procedures across all sectors and management of an increasing number of cases with limited resources.