• Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes, especially sex trafficking, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.
• Proactively identify trafficking victims by screening for trafficking indicators among vulnerable populations, including individuals in commercial sex, child laborers and children who are homeless, and Georgian and foreign workers in vulnerable labor sectors.
• Implement procedures to improve the Permanent Group’s ability to consistently and accurately identify victims.
• Improve law enforcement’s capacity to investigate complex cases, including advanced training on money laundering, organized crime, and digital evidence
• Increase resources and training to plan intelligence and evidence-led law enforcement operations with victim-centered approaches.
• Encourage victims’ participation in investigations and prosecutions through victim-centered court procedures, including remote testimony or funding for travel and other expenses for victims to attend court hearings.
• Increase the labor inspectorate’s resources and capacity to identify trafficking victims.
• Improve measures to order restitution for victims, including training prosecutors and judges on asset seizure and legal assistance.
• Increase cooperation with civil society to assist the government’s efforts to prevent trafficking and protect victims.
• Increase awareness-raising campaigns about the existence of trafficking, legal recourse, and available protection services for vulnerable groups.
• Develop guidelines and procedures for victim-witness coordinators and other victim assistance providers to strengthen coordination.
• Increase transparency of the inter-ministerial trafficking coordination council and regularly publish information on the government’s anti-trafficking efforts.

The government maintained its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts.

Articles 143-1 and 143-2 of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties ranging from seven to 12 years’ imprisonment for crimes involving an adult victim, and eight to 12 years’ imprisonment for crimes involving a child victim. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with regard to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other grave crimes, such as rape.

In 2024, law enforcement initiated nine investigations (five sex trafficking, one labor trafficking, and three unspecified), compared with 18 investigations in 2023. Law enforcement continued to investigate 12 cases initiated in previous years. The government prosecuted 13 alleged traffickers (five for sex trafficking and eight for labor trafficking), compared with 15 prosecutions in 2023. The government reported prosecutions of six alleged labor traffickers initiated in previous years remained ongoing. Courts convicted 13 labor traffickers, compared with 12 labor trafficking convictions in 2023. The government did not report any sex trafficking convictions for the fourth consecutive year. Judges issued sentences ranging from one year to 14 years’ imprisonment. The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in human trafficking crimes.

The government maintained several specialized anti-trafficking units, including the Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration Unit in the Central Criminal Police Department and its six mobile units. The GPO had five specialized prosecutors. The Adjara Autonomous Republic maintained an anti-trafficking task force comprising specialized investigators and prosecutors. The Adjara Police Department’s Division for Combating Organized Crime, created during the previous reporting period, was responsible for trafficking investigations; however, observers reported it was not fully operational, impeding trafficking investigations in the region. Mobile units and the Adjara police department proactively screened for trafficking in hotels, bars, bathhouses, nightclubs, casinos, and other high-risk businesses; mobile units and the task force inspected 68 high-risk businesses (100 in 2023). The Tbilisi City Court maintained a nine-judge panel that heard “crimes against human rights and freedom,” including trafficking, and the Tbilisi Court of Appeals had eight specialized judges assigned to handle “crimes against human beings,” which included trafficking; the remaining 27 courts did not have specialized judges, but observers reported the government assigned trafficking cases to judges with relevant experience when possible.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) training academy provided anti-trafficking courses for police, prosecutors and border police. The government, in collaboration with civil society, trained investigators, prosecutors, service providers, and labor inspectors on topics including investigative techniques, identifying child trafficking, and victim-centered approaches to investigations and prosecutions. Observers reported authorities continued to require training on corroborating victim testimonies and evidence collection in complex cases involving financial crimes, organized crime, and digital evidence. In past years, police reportedly conducted random law enforcement actions in some commercial sex establishments rather than conducting intelligence-led operations. Authorities continued cooperating with foreign counterparts on law enforcement activities on six trafficking cases.

The government increased victim protection efforts.

In 2024, law enforcement formally identified 18 victims (five sex trafficking and 13 labor trafficking victims), compared with 17 victims in 2023. Of these, five were women, four were men, and nine were children; the majority (11 victims) were foreign nationals. Using a multidisciplinary national referral mechanism (NRM) with procedures for identification and referral to services, law enforcement officially recognized victims who participated in investigations, and the Permanent Group, composed of three local NGO and two international organization representatives, assessed and officially recognized victims who declined to participate in investigations; both recognitions granted victims access to the same protection and assistance services. The Permanent Group was required by statute to convene and assess a potential victim within 48 hours. However, the Permanent Group did not recognize any victims for the fourth consecutive year, and it only met once during the year. Experts reported the excessively high burden of proof placed on victims discouraged case referrals to the Permanent Group, and a lack of training and awareness among front-line officials undermined the NRM’s effectiveness. Although potential victims could also access state-services, observers noted in practice, some services required formal identification. Mobile units and the task force maintained separate SOPs and guidelines for proactively identifying trafficking victims. The Agency for State Care (ASC) operated three specialized mobile groups responsible for identifying trafficking victims. Six mobile groups were also responsible for identifying potential victims among vulnerable children who were homeless or using the streets as a source of livelihood, and they assisted 412 children, including potential trafficking victims, in 2024 (242 in 2023). The government began developing victim identification procedures for health care professionals in collaboration with an international organization. Observers reported the government’s victim identification efforts, particularly of sex trafficking, were ineffective.

The ASC created a new division responsible for coordinating service provision for victims of human trafficking. The ASC operated three shelters (two in Tbilisi and one in Batumi) for trafficking victims, and an NGO operated a dedicated trafficking shelter with government support. The government allocated 2.6 million lari ($935,250) to the government-run shelters, a significant increase compared with 1.73 million lari ($622,300) in the previous year. The ASC shelters could accommodate men, women, and children in separate areas and provided services to both trafficking and domestic violence victims. ASC-run shelters provided medical aid, psycho-social support, legal assistance, and reintegration support, and victims were eligible for a one-time financial payment of 1,000 lari ($360); the shelters were staffed by a nurse and psychologist. The shelters supported 14 victims in 2024 (11 in 2023). ASC-run shelters had the capacity to accommodate 38 victims in Tbilisi and five victims in Batumi. Victims could stay at the shelters for four months, which authorities could extend upon the victim’s request. Shelter staff chaperoned victims when leaving the shelter, but victims could request to leave the shelter unchaperoned. Observers reported one ASC shelter’s colocation with a program for individuals with drug addictions compromised trafficking victims’ confidentiality and safety, particularly children. During the reporting period, a government official reportedly publicly disclosed a shelter’s location, further threatening victims’ safety. ASC-run crisis centers in seven cities also provided psychological care, medical assistance, and legal support to potential victims awaiting official victim status or victims who did not wish to reside in the shelters. Child victims received the same specialized assistance, in addition to custodial or foster care, education, and family reintegration programs. The ASC also operated three shelters and five day centers for vulnerable children who were homeless or used the streets as a source of livelihood, including potential trafficking victims. Foreign national victims were eligible for the same services as Georgian victims and could receive renewable one-year residence permits with the ability to seek legal employment; the government issued a residency permit to at least one victim in 2024. The government provided repatriation assistance to Georgian victims returning to Georgia and foreign victims wishing to leave Georgia; however, no victims requested repatriation assistance in 2024.

Due to inconsistent screening, the government did not take effective measures to prevent the inappropriate penalization of potential victims solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked. Authorities screened Georgian nationals deported from other countries for trafficking indicators at the international airport and border crossings. However, the MOIA’s migration department responsible for asylum procedures and detention and expulsion of illegal migrants did not have guidelines to screen for trafficking indicators. Observers reported authorities expelled Azerbaijani children using the streets as a source of livelihood, including potential trafficking victims, without screening for trafficking indicators.

The government provided victim-witness assistance for victims who chose to participate in law enforcement proceedings, including the option to place victims into the state’s witness protection program. MOIA and GPO victim-witness coordinators supported victims from the onset of an investigation, including through legal and logistical assistance and measures to prevent re-traumatization; during the reporting period, GPO issued an order mandating prosecutors consider appointing victim-witness coordinators for all trafficking cases. Victim-witness coordinators provided support to eight victims participating in investigations and prosecutions (13 victims in 2023). However, observers reported the lack of standardized interactions among MOIA and GPO victim-witness coordinators, the ASC, and other interlocutors created coordination issues. The government granted victims a 30-day recovery and reflection period to decide whether to participate in criminal justice proceedings. The government operated mobile legal consultation centers to reach communities vulnerable to trafficking. The ASC maintained a social service center for child victims of sexual violence, including trafficking, that provided child-friendly assistance during investigations and court proceedings. The law allowed video testimony and permitted victims whose cases were pending trial to leave the country; however, experts reported, in practice, law enforcement required victims to remain in the country through the end of the trial, potentially hindering victim cooperation, particularly from foreign victims wanting to repatriate because of prolonged court proceedings. Victims could obtain restitution through criminal proceedings; however, judges have never awarded restitution in criminal cases. Victims could obtain compensation through civil suits, and for the first time in several years, courts awarded four victims 9,500 lari ($3,420) and one victim 6,000 lari ($2,160) in damages.

The government maintained prevention efforts.

The Inter-Agency Council on Combating Trafficking in Persons (Anti-Trafficking Council), composed of representatives from various ministries, the international community, and civil society, coordinated anti-trafficking efforts; the Anti-Trafficking Council met four times. The government continued implementing its 2023-2024 NAP and adopted a new 2025-2026 NAP. The Anti-Trafficking Council published information, reports, and statistics on anti-trafficking efforts on the Ministry of Justice’s website; however, observers continued to report the Anti-Trafficking Council did not proactively compile and share information on its activities, nor did it provide public assessments of government efforts. Observers also reported the government’s lack of systematic engagement with civil society deterred cooperation, including on anti-trafficking efforts. The Anti-Trafficking Council maintained a working group comprising state agencies, civil society, and international organizations, responsible for organizing awareness campaigns. The government organized anti-trafficking awareness campaigns, including school campaigns, informational meetings, brochures, social media campaigns, and film screenings. The GPO maintained a working group comprising officials from the MOIA, Ministry of Justice, ASC, and the labor inspectorate to coordinate measures to prevent forced labor. The government hosted a foreign delegation and provided expertise on legal frameworks for combating human trafficking and providing victim services. The MOIA and ASC continued to operate separate anti-trafficking hotlines; the hotlines received six calls related to trafficking, compared with one call in 2023.

The Labor Inspectorate Service (LPS), which had branch offices in Batumi and Kutaisi, maintained a specialized unit for forced labor and labor exploitation; however, the unit comprised only two inspectors and lacked adequate resources to effectively identify labor trafficking. Labor inspectors maintained guidelines on identifying labor trafficking, and the government provided anti-trafficking training to 120 labor inspectors during the reporting period. Labor inspectors focused on high-risk sectors, including agriculture, construction, and forestry, and referred one potential trafficking case to MOIA (four in 2023). The amended Law on Labor Migration prohibited worker-paid recruitment fees, established a permit system for migrant workers, and required LPS to license and monitor recruitment agencies. Migrant workers could change employers without special permission, potentially decreasing their vulnerability to trafficking. The government maintained bilaterial labor agreements with France, Germany, Bulgaria, and Israel to facilitate the recruitment of migrant workers, which included specific protections to prevent trafficking. The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons, Labor, and Health and Social Affairs required intermediary companies assisting Georgian citizens in finding employment abroad to submit annual reports and register activities. The government issued a fine of 3,000 lari ($1,080) to intermediary companies that did not register an activity, and a fine of 1,000 lari ($360) for failing to submit an annual report; the government did not report how many companies it fined in 2024 (11 in 2023). The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts.

Trafficking affects all communities. This section summarizes government and civil society reporting on the nature and scope of trafficking over the past five years. Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Georgia, and traffickers exploit victims from Georgia abroad. Traffickers exploit women and girls from Georgia in sex trafficking inside the country, particularly in the Adjara region, and abroad in Cyprus, Egypt, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Traffickers fraudulently recruit victims by promising well-paying jobs abroad in tea processing plants, hospitals, salons, restaurants, and hotels. Georgia is also a transit country for women from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan exploited in Türkiye. Traffickers exploit women from Central Asia, particularly Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, in sex trafficking in the tourist areas of the Adjara region and larger cities like Tbilisi and Batumi in saunas, brothels, bars, strip clubs, casinos, and hotels. Traffickers exploit Georgian men and women in forced labor in Georgia and abroad, including in Cyprus, Egypt, Türkiye, and the UAE. Traffickers exploit children in forced labor in neighboring countries, especially in Türkiye. Georgian, Romani, and Kurdish children are forced to beg, sell flowers, and commit criminal acts in Georgia. Traffickers increasingly use online means to recruit and exploit sex trafficking victims, including communicating through chats and establishing websites and advertisements for escort services. Women from China in commercial sex and Southeast Asian women working in massage parlors are vulnerable to sex trafficking. Chinese traffickers fraudulently recruited and exploited Thai women in forced labor via surrogacy in Georgia. Georgian, Romani, and Kurdish children, children of Armenian refugees, and children of IDPs from South Ossetia and Abkhazia who are homeless or use the streets as a source of livelihood are vulnerable to trafficking, particularly forced begging. Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war and Russians fleeing conscription are vulnerable to trafficking.

The Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remained outside Georgian government control, and authorities in these regions were supported by Russian forces. Russia and Abkhaz representatives limited the ability of international organizations to operate in Abkhazia, although international organizations had greater ability to operate there than in South Ossetia. As a result, no information was available about the presence of trafficking or the Abkhaz and South Ossetian representatives’ efforts to combat trafficking. However, NGOs consider IDPs in Georgian-controlled territory from Abkhazia and South Ossetia particularly vulnerable to trafficking. Observers reported traffickers may subject migrants to forced labor in Abkhazia. North Korean nationals working in Abkhazia may be operating under exploitative working conditions and display multiple indicators of forced labor.