The Global Report 2012 provides an overview of patterns and flows of trafficking in persons at global, regional and national levels. The report also includes a chapter on the worldwide response to trafficking in persons and country profiles for each of the 132 countries covered by this edition.

On 5 April 2011, the European Union adopted Directive 2011/36/EU which sets out minimum standards to be applied throughout the European Union in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting victims.

The Strategy, adopted on 19 June 2012, contains a set of concrete and practical measures that will support and complement the Directive 2011/36/EC whose deadline for transposition is 6 April 2013.

Today the Commission is reporting on progress in the fight against trafficking in human beings. The report presents trends, progress and challenges in this field. Efforts must be stepped up to effectively fight this phenomenon.

In its latest annual report, published today, the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking watchdog GRETA (Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings) urges countries across the continent to step up the fight against human trafficking.

To mark the 6th EU Anti-Trafficking Day, the Cyprus EU Presidency and the European Commission are organising the conference 'Working together towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings: The Way Forward'