Study on reviewing the functioning of Member States’ National and Transnational Referral Mechanisms

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. In May 2019, the European Commission awarded the contract to the Consortium led by Ecorys Polska Sp. z o.o., including the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Human Trafficking Studies Centre of the Warsaw University (HTSC). 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. The report consists of four main chapters: • Chapter 1 describes in more detail the objectives and scope of the Study, as well as the methodology applied. • Chapter 2 provides a brief description of the EU legal and policy framework to address THB and explains the role of formal or informal NRMs and TRMs. • Chapter 3 reviews the functioning of formal or informal NRMs in Member States, including with respect to a wide range of relevant documents at national level, such as legal and policy instruments; institutional arrangements; victim detection and identification practices; referral pathways; short-term and long-term assistance and support to victims, including in criminal proceedings; and the procedures for return to the country of origin or previous residence. • Chapter 4 focuses on TRMs, describing the various TRMs that have been developed in EU Member States as part of EU-funded projects, as well as the approaches on the ground in Member States, including other forms of cross-border cooperation with respect to referral of victims.