On 3 May 2005, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted three treaties, including the Convention on action against trafficking in human beings (PDF, 17 pages). The purpose of this Convention is to counter and prevent trafficking in persons that takes place nationally and internationally. The Convention does not require a link to organized crime and incorporates victim protection, as well as a monitoring mechanism to ensure states parties' compliance. The Convention was opened for signature at the Warsaw Summit on 16-17 May 2005. Countries that have signed onto the Convention include: Armenia, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and Sweden.
The purpose of the Convention is to prevent and counter trafficking in persons, while ensuring gender equality, protect and assist victims of trafficking, and promote international cooperation on combating trafficking in persons. In addition, the Convention addresses monitoring mechanisms, investigations and prosecutions, and substantive criminal law.