Human trafficking in Luxembourg: report reveals alarming figures

The number of identified victims of human trafficking in Luxembourg continues to rise, but official figures still underestimate the scale of the problem, according to a new report by the country’s human rights commission.

In 2023 and 2024, 152 people were registered as victims of human trafficking in the Grand Duchy, up from 127 in the previous two years, the Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CCDH) said, warning that the real number is likely significantly higher due to the hidden nature of the crime.

“The figures don’t tell the whole story. We are convinced that the reality is much grimmer,” said CCDH secretary general Fabienne Rossler at a press conference on Thursday.

While sexual exploitation remains a major form of trafficking, the report stresses that labour exploitation is an increasingly significant part of the problem, particularly in sectors such as hospitality and construction.

Of the 152 identified victims, 83 were women and 69 men, with most aged between 23 and 40.

Women were more often victims of sexual exploitation, while men were predominantly affected by labour exploitation.

Most victims came from non-EU countries, including China, Russia, Ukraine and Albania, although the CCDH cautioned against drawing conclusions that could reinforce stereotypes.

The report highlights a sharp increase in trafficking cases in the hospitality sector, where the number rose from four cases in 2014 to 28 in 2023 and 22 in 2024.

The construction sector has also seen a rise, with cases increasing from two in 2014 to 20 in 2023, largely involving male victims.

Trafficking is also increasingly facilitated online. Of the victims identified in 2023 and 2024, 51 were recruited via online platforms, the CCDH said.

Data concerns

The commission criticised shortcomings in how data on human trafficking is collected, noting that the criminal police still rely on an Excel spreadsheet to track cases – a system the CCDH described as inadequate. It called for a more professional data collection framework and closer cooperation with the national statistics office, Statec.

The CCDH also raised concerns about weak coordination at policy level, pointing out that the monitoring committee under the Ministry of Justice, tasked with combating human trafficking, met only once in 2024 despite being expected to meet at least three times a year.

Among its recommendations, the commission called for an update to Luxembourg’s national action plan against human trafficking, which has not been revised since 2016, and reiterated its long-standing demand for a witness protection programme, which it says would strengthen efforts to prosecute traffickers and protect victims.

(This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translated using AI, edited by Kabir Agarwal.)