The Council of Europe has issued a reprimand against Portugal regarding its treatment of migrants, prompted by a report from the Action Against Human Trafficking group (GRETA). The report, released on Monday April 29th 2024, highlights delays in migrant regularization procedures in Portugal, hindering access to justice and penal proceedings against human traffickers.
According to the report, the lengthy process to qualify for legal assistance through the social security institution can span several months, effectively preventing foreign victims of human trafficking from seeking justice if they lack residency permits or social security registration.
Helga Gayer, President of GRETA, emphasized the widespread lack of specialized legal support for human trafficking victims across all countries. Additionally, migrants often encounter obstacles in accessing the labor market, leaving them vulnerable to further exploitation.
Portugal’s migrant situation has garnered increasing attention, exacerbated by administrative changes transferring responsibility from the Border Police Service (SEF) to the newly established Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) late last year.
António Leitão Amaro, Minister of the Council Presidency, disclosed during a Brussels meeting that the current government inherited a backlog of over 400,000 residency proceedings requests. Expressing concerns, he noted that Portugal’s previous reputation as a European model in this sector has now become a source of worry, prompting consultations with European partners.
Amidst these challenges, the reprimand from the Council of Europe underscores the urgency for Portugal to address issues in its migrant regularization procedures and ensure effective access to justice for victims of human trafficking.