On July 30, 2025, VANGUARD participated in the ERADICATING II Webinar titled “Trafficking in Human Beings and Labour Exploitation: From insights to Action – Combatting Trafficking Labour Exploitation in Europe”, held Online.
ERADICATING II is an ISF project aimed at strengthening the capacity of (i) law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, (ii) labour inspectors, and (iii) first-line practitioners to detect, identify, protect, and refer victims of labour trafficking for support and care. Overall, the project aimed to increase the number of identified victims of labour trafficking, especially among vulnerable groups such as women, children, and Ukrainian refugees, as well as to increase the number of investigations and prosecutions at the EU level. More than 40 key actors have joined online to discuss practical strategies, policy responses, and current challenges in combating trafficking in human beings and labour exploitation.
VANGUARD, represented by its Coordinator, the M4D group of the MKLab of the Information Technologies Institute (ITI) at the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH), presented the project’s main objectives, key planned outcomes, and main achievements thus far. Particular focus was placed on the initial findings from the desktop and empirical research, highlighting insights gained through project activities. It underscored the importance of integrating social research findings into technological developments, while also contributing to the enhancement of the existing intelligence picture in the field, as well as building a common understanding and awareness on the phenomenon.