According to a statement from the Portuguese Victim Support Association, on European Day to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings,
"the Human Trafficking Observatory has flagged up 264 trafficking situations in Portugal in 2016, reflecting an increase of 36.8% over the previous year and portraying Portugal as a destination country for the victims of various forms of exploitation.”
The US Department of State's latest Human Trafficking Report in June 2017, stated that "the Portuguese government has adopted and implemented the necessary measures to combat human trafficking in the country,” stressing the importance of the work of non-governmental organisations and governmental organisations involved in measures to prevent and combat this criminal activity.
The European Day to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, launched by the European Commission in October 2007, aims to promote "public awareness in general and European governments in particular" of this phenomenon known as "modern day slavery."
The Portuguese Victim Support Association is involved in development and intervention work with the victims of this crime through a support network and a shelter unit for women victims of trafficking.
