Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Modern Science and Education‖ (April 10-12, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – Paris, France, 2026. - 217 p.

40 partners. It also highlights the importance of integrating a gender perspective into all anti-trafficking policies [3, p. 460]. Overall, the EU legal framework reflects a multidimensional approach to combating trafficking in women, combining criminal law measures with social and preventive policies. However, despite significant progress, challenges remain in ensuring effective implementation across member states. This underscores the need for continuous improvement of legal instruments and stronger coordination mechanisms to address emerging migration-related risks and protect vulnerable populations [5, p. 180]. The European Union has established a complex institutional framework to combat trafficking in women, involving multiple agencies with complementary functions. These institutions play a crucial role in coordinating policies, facilitating cooperation between member states, and ensuring the effective implementation of legal instruments. The institutional approach reflects the transnational nature of trafficking and the need for a unified response across borders [3, p. 458]. The European Commission serves as a central coordinating body in the EU‘s anti-trafficking efforts. It is responsible for developing policies, monitoring the implementation of EU directives, and promoting cooperation among member states. The Commission also plays a key role in funding initiatives aimed at preventing trafficking and supporting victims, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and strategic approach to the issue. Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, is instrumental in supporting criminal investigations related to trafficking in human beings. It facilitates intelligence sharing among national law enforcement authorities and assists in dismantling organized criminal networks. Europol‘s analytical capabilities allow for the identification of trafficking patterns and the coordination of cross-border investigations [1, p. 225]. Another important institution is Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which is responsible for managing the EU‘s external borders. Frontex contributes to the prevention of trafficking by monitoring migration flows and identifying potential victims at border crossings. Its