[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

BELGIUM (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report - Belgium

The Government of Belgium fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.  The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Belgium remained on Tier 1.  These efforts included launching a website to help victims access services and request help, identifying and assisting more victims, and issuing significantly more residence permits to potential trafficking victims.  Although the government meets the minimum standards, it investigated and prosecuted fewer suspected trafficking cases, and 56 percent of the sentences issued to convicted traffickers were fully or partially suspended.  The government also imposed several conditions on victims’ access to services, including access to residence permits, such as participation in a criminal case, which constrained victim identification and limited crucial services for victims.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to convict traffickers and sentence convicted traffickers to adequate penalties, which should involve significant prison terms.

Vigorously investigate and prosecute suspected traffickers and train law enforcement on increasing trends, including the use of online platforms to recruit and exploit victims.

Train first responders on the child victim identification and referral protocol and ensure it is used effectively in practice, especially with respect to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and child victims of forced criminality, and secure adequate funding for the provision of services for child trafficking victims.

Ensure victims have access to the full range of services regardless of the outcome of the case against their trafficker or whether they choose to participate in judicial processes.

Implement trauma-informed and victim-centered procedures during trial proceedings to minimize the risk of re-traumatization and ensure all victims, not just those under threat of physical violence, have access to witness protection services.

Coordinate and centralize the collection of timely trafficking data across the government to effectively analyze efforts.

Improve victims’ ability to access court-ordered restitution in criminal cases and ensure victims exploited by means other than physical violence have full access to victim compensation.

Revise the definition of human trafficking under Belgian law to more closely align with the definition in the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.