[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

POLAND (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Poland does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Poland remained on Tier 2. These efforts included increasing penalties for convicted traffickers and identifying more victims. The government funded two NGOs that provided assistance to more potential trafficking victims. In addition, the government took extensive steps to prevent the trafficking of those fleeing Russia’s war against Ukraine through awareness efforts, the creation of a hotline, the creation and use of SOPs regarding unaccompanied foreign national children crossing the Poland-Ukraine border, and active coordination with international organizations and NGOs. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. The number of trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions all decreased. During the reporting period, the government’s funding for victim services remained stagnant, and experts continued to note shelter capacity for male trafficking victims was insufficient. The government did not report awarding compensation to any victims during the reporting period, and restitution for victims remained rare.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to identify trafficking victims, particularly among vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied children and migrants.

Proactively identify labor trafficking victims, including by strengthening the capacity of the Labor Inspectorate to identify victims of labor trafficking and refer them to services.

Vigorously investigate and prosecute alleged trafficking crimes, particularly labor trafficking, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Increase funding for comprehensive victim services, including specialized accommodation for child and male victims.

Increase training for prosecutors and judges on the importance of prosecuting under the anti-trafficking statute, the severity of trafficking crimes, and a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to conducting trials.

Increase training for law enforcement on the element of coercion in trafficking crimes to ensure that victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Improve central operational coordination and data collection for anti-trafficking activities.

Increase worker protections by eliminating all recruitment fees charged to workers by labor recruiters and ensuring employers pay any recruitment fees and related processing.

Establish procedures or specialized units to ensure trafficking cases are handled by trained prosecutors.

Appoint trauma-informed officials to conduct child victim witness interviews in a child-friendly manner.

Improve victims’ ability to access court-ordered restitution in criminal cases and compensation through civil proceedings.