Nicosia:A report from the EU Anti-Trafficking Hub reveals that Cyprus has established a fully institutionalized National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings, underpinned by both legislative and administrative measures.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has identified Cyprus as one of eight EU Member States with a designated national contact point for cross-border victim referral. The country is currently reviewing its legal and procedural frameworks to enhance its efforts against human trafficking. This includes a focus on early victim identification, clarifying roles of involved authorities and organizations, child protection, updating guidelines, and improving inter-service cooperation.

The report emphasizes that standardized procedures and regular communication between services are crucial for the effective coordination of Cyprus' referral mechanism. However, it also recognizes challenges such as varying responsibilities, differing operational priorities, and the limited capacities of the involved authorities and organizations.

Additionally, the report calls for ongoing training for frontline personnel and consistent application of referral procedures throughout all sectors, as well as more effective management of the increasing number of cases despite limited resources.