Trafficking in human beings as a crime and as a human rights violation

The Preamble to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings designates trafficking as “a violation of human rights and an offence to the dignity and integrity of human beings”. Similarly, Directive 2011/36/EU, Recital 1 calls human trafficking “a serious crime” and “a gross violation of fundamental rights”. ¹ This chapter assesses whether trafficking in human beings (THB) violates human rights, and considers the consequences for States.