Counselling Victims of Trafficking and People Vulnerable to Trafficking and Exploitation. Blueprint for Return Counsellors

The 2021 European Union (EU) Strategy on Return and Reintegration promotes voluntary return and reintegration as an integral part of a common EU system for returns, however, it does not specifically address the return and reintegration of victims of trafficking and people vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.

The Commission Staff Working Document on the EU framework on return counselling and the Reintegration Assistance Tool states that in managing vulnerable cases, a lack of cooperation and information-sharing between the different organizations involved in the return process can put the individual at risk of even greater vulnerability. Given that human trafficking is itself a form of psychological, physical or sexual violence, victims of trafficking (VoTs)/trafficked persons and people vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation due to their individual vulnerabilities fall within the scope of the EU framework on return and reintegration assistance. It is therefore vital to put in place effective channels of communication and information-sharing between providers at every stage of the return process.

This Blueprint Document has been developed. It aims to provide EU return counsellors and other relevant frontline practitioners with practical tools and guidance for working with vulnerable people, including victims of trafficking. The specific purpose of the Blueprint is to: