On Tuesday, 23rd of June 2026, VANGUARD had the honour of holding its 2nd Policy Roundtable online, from 12:00-14:00 CEST. The event brought together ten (10) experts in the field of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation and forced criminality, from different countries (Greece, Brussels, Moldova, the Netherlands, the UK, Switzerland) and from different types of organisations in the field, such as NGOs and International organisations (La Strada International, The Smile of the Child), as well as from respectful universities (KU Leuven, CENTRIC – Sheffield Hallam University).
The main objective of this Policy Roundtable was to initiate discussions among THB experts, including (but not limited to) law enforcement officials, social service providers, legal experts, and civil society organisations, in order to identify current gaps and challenges, assess policy strengths and weaknesses, and propose specific survivor-centred policy responses to enhance cooperation, strengthen prevention efforts, and advance victim protection. The meeting started with a brief presentation on the key insights from the VANGUARD literature and empirical research on victims’ vulnerabilities, perpetrators’ modus operandi in the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of victims, as well as the emerging form of THB for labour exploitation, forced criminality, and poly-exploitation.
Participants then delved deeper into key issues, sharing their thoughts and insights on the effectiveness and limitations of current policies, the role of existing actors such as labour inspectorates, prosecutors, NGOs and police authorities, the role of survivors, and the development of a common EU indicator framework that could facilitate and further improve prevention and prosecutorial efforts. The outcomes of this activity will be included in the Second Policy Recommendation Paper, which aims to inform decision-making and operational planning, as well as to support coordinated action across policy, operational, and technological domains, involving actors at the local, national, European and international levels, including EU agencies, civil society organisations, and stakeholders engaged in digital and innovation policy.
We would like to sincerely thank all the experts for dedicating their time and effort, engaging in meaningful discussions, and providing valuable feedback that will enrich policy endeavours on Trafficking in Human Beings.
