Bulgaria needs to make additional efforts to prevent human trafficking and to protect victims, according to conclusions from a report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), published on October 9. The document reviews Bulgaria's progress since the last report in 2021 and acknowledges that the authorities have taken action, but notes that the recommendations have not been fully implemented.

GRETA insists that Sofia adopt the internationally recognized definition of human trafficking. The report notes that Bulgarian authorities recognize the particular vulnerability of disadvantaged minorities, people with disabilities, children from underprivileged areas, unaccompanied children, persons suffering from addictions, and people with large debts, to human trafficking. The report expresses the expectation that the authorities will work to reduce the risk of child and forced marriages.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

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