Luxembourg Retains Top Ranking in Human Trafficking Report But Punishment Still Deemed Too Lenient

Luxembourg has retained its "Tier 1" ranking in the US Department of State's latest "Trafficking in Persons Report".
 
On Tuesday 20 June 2023, US Ambassador to Luxembourg Thomas Barrett officially presented the results of the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report to Luxembourg's Minister of Justice, Sam Tanson.

Minister Tanson stressed the importance of the efforts undertaken in the fight against human trafficking both nationally and internationally. She described the subject as more topical than ever, particularly as one of the consequences for countries at war.

As in previous years, Luxembourg remained on Tier 1, the top level. The report concluded that the Luxembourg Government fully met the minimum standards to eliminate human trafficking. The government "continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts" during the reporting period. The report specified that such efforts included "investigating, prosecuting and convicting more traffickers and identifying significantly more trafficking victims." The report also cited increased government funding for awareness-raising activities.

However, the report judged punishment for convicted traffickers to be too lenient and pointed out that the Luxembourg Government had "decreased overall funding to NGOs for victim assistance and shelter" for the third year in a row. The report elaborated that too lenient sentences created "potential safety concerns" for victims, weakened deterrance and jeopardised national efforts to combat trafficking.

The report thus recommended, among other things, that the Luxembourg Government pursue "adequate penalties" for convicted traffickers and ensure the latter actually serve their sentences. It also recommended that the government allow other entities than the police to formally identify victims, as well as increased funding to NGOs, increased training for judges on the seriousness of this crime and its impact on victims (to ensure "adequate" sentences) and the development of safeguards to protect victims against traffickers freed on suspended sentences.

The full 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Luxembourg is available online at https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/luxembourg/.