Athens - 33 victims of trafficking in human beings (THB) have received social integration support through skill developments activities, vocational trainings and Greek language courses, under a joint initiative developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection (GSVPIP) of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA), and the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA).

The persons supported under the action were women from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Guinea and Albania. The assistance received had a focus on their education, skills development and employability.

“Our experience in the field shows that trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation is significantly underreported in Greece; it’s an invisible crime”, said Sanja Celebic – Lukovac, Chief of IOM Mission in Greece.

“This joint initiative is a very important step forward towards the support of a vulnerable group of people, which complements the good work that Greece has made the last years to enhance and facilitate the identification procedures of victims of THB in the country”, she added.

Based on recent reports for Greece, most of the presumed victims originated from African countries, primarily Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Nigeria, followed by Asian countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh included. At the same time, trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation has been the predominant form of trafficking, affecting most of female victims.

"Addressing human trafficking requires a collective, coordinated response rooted in compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity. Initiatives like this one, made possible through the collaboration between our Secretariat, IOM, and EKKA, demonstrate the critical role that partnerships between national authorities and international organizations play in protecting and empowering survivors. The integration support provided is not just about rebuilding lives—it is about restoring hope and reinforcing our shared commitment to human rights. Especially in these challenging times, it is our duty to ensure that no victim is left behind and that our systems are equipped to respond with humanity and effectiveness, fulfilling the positive obligations of the state", stated Mr. Heracles Moskoff, the General Secretary for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection of the Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum stated

In addition, IOM provides technical assistance to the National Authorities and organizes training sessions for front-line migration professionals, including psychologists, social workers, legal counsellors and interpreters.

Since the beginning of the Action, almost 500 professionals across Greece have participated in targeted training sessions, with emphasis on victim identification, referral procedures and national legal frameworks.

IOM has also developed a practical guide for training participants and their organizations to strengthen counter-trafficking efforts.

With the aim to improve living conditions for victims of human trafficking and ensure a dignified protective environment, IOM is planning targeted interventions in shelters and support facilities, through housing renovations and the provision of essential equipment.

The action "Specific Action on the provision of services to victims of trafficking in human beings who are third country nationals", is implemented by the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection (GSVPIP) of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA) and with the full support of the National Center for Social Solidarity (EKKA) within the framework of the National Referral Mechanism for the protection of victims of human trafficking (NRM) and is funded by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum of the Hellenic Republic – Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund 2021-2027, co-funded by the European Union. 

For media enquiries, please contact:

 Christine Nikolaidou, cnikolaidou@iom.int

Click the link below for IOM’s trafficking tool in Greek

Press Release