This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of KOK – 25 years of action against trafficking in human beings and exploitation and advocating for the rights of affected individuals and human rights of migrants. We marked the occasion in November with a symposium in Berlin gathering our member organisations, cooperation partners and supporters.
In October, the first periodic report by the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings within the German Institute for Human Rights. This document describes how trafficking in human beings has evolved in Germany since 2020 and what measures have been taken by the state and the regions to comply with their obligations under European and human rights law. As part of this work, KOK provides its insights derived from the data collection efforts carried out by civil society stakeholders. Our own 2024 Data Report came out on 18 October.
Germany’s tripartite coalition government failed to reach many of the aims they had set themselves as regards anti-trafficking efforts or the rights of affected individuals. However, there have been some positive steps.
The new Social Compensation Legislation (German Social Code, Part XIV) entered into force on 1 January, making it easier for affected persons to fulfil the necessary conditions to file claims. In collaboration with NGOs bff and BKSF, KOK developed practical guidelines for specialised counselling centres to offer the best possible help to their clients when making a claim.
The EU Anti-Trafficking Directive revision has also been completed. In our KOK Information Service, we presented our analysis and recommendations for the national implementation.
However, we are concerned by the tightening of asylum legislation following the reform of the Common European Asylum System, which has not taken into consideration the needs and rights of vulnerable groups. In the face of a political discourse on migration that increasingly lacks objectivity and a tangible shift to the right in politics and in society at large, we will continue standing up for human rights in the coming year as Germany heads towards elections.
Further information on the work of the KOK and important events in the past year can be found in the annual review. This is available as a download (PDF) in German and English.
Those wishing to support KOK's work can do so easily via our project on Betterplace.