Council of Europe Treaty Series - No. 197
Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings *
Warsaw, 16.V.2005
Preamble
The member States of the Council of Europe and the other Signatories hereto,
Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its
members;
Considering that trafficking in human beings constitutes a violation of human rights and an
offence to the dignity and the integrity of the human being;
Considering that trafficking in human beings may result in slavery for victims;
Considering that respect for victims’ rights, protection of victims and action to combat
trafficking in human beings must be the paramount objectives;
Considering that all actions or initiatives against trafficking in human beings must be nondiscriminatory, take gender equality into account as well as a child-rights approach;
Recalling the declarations by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States at the
112th (14-15 May 2003) and the 114th (12-13 May 2004) Sessions of the Committee of
Ministers calling for reinforced action by the Council of Europe on trafficking in human beings;
Bearing in mind the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (1950) and its protocols;
Bearing in mind the following recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member
states of the Council of Europe: Recommendation No. R (91) 11 on sexual exploitation,
pornography and prostitution of, and trafficking in, children and young adults;
Recommendation No. R (97) 13 concerning intimidation of witnesses and the rights of the
defence; Recommendation No. R (2000) 11 on action against trafficking in human beings for
the purpose of sexual exploitation and Recommendation Rec (2001) 16 on the protection of
children against sexual exploitation; Recommendation Rec (2002) 5 on the protection of
women against violence;
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(*) The Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European
Community entered into force on 1 December 2009. As a consequence, as from that date, any
reference to the European Economic Community shall be read as the European Union.