States need to protect most vulnerable members of society: OSCE Alliance Conference calls to strengthen protection of victims of trafficking
VIENNA, 4 April 2021 – Protecting victims of human trafficking and upholding their rights is the focus of the 22nd high-level OSCE Alliance Conference against Trafficking in Persons, which opened today in Vienna with over 850 registered participants.
Estimates suggest that less than 1% of victims of trafficking are ever identified, leaving millions of victims without the assistance and support they need to recover and any access to justice for the harm they suffer.
In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the urgency of protecting vulnerable persons is only more acute. Earlier migration crises have shown that criminal groups and individuals will take advantage of large flows of people to exploit the most vulnerable among them. State authorities need to renew their focus on the risks of trafficking in human beings and on strengthening identification and protection systems.
The 2022 Alliance Conference offers an opportunity to reflect on how to better identify and support victims; how to recognize and address their vulnerabilities; how to tailor social interventions when the victims are children; and how to improve current protection systems.
“The next three days are about victims of trafficking”, said OSCE Special Representative Valiant Richey in opening the conference. “And about the actions States must take to identify them, to protect them, to uphold their rights, to assist them in recovering from the trauma they have suffered, and to empower them to regain their agency and contribute to society with their talents and aspirations.”
“We must always protect the most vulnerable. Today’s reality is a sobering reminder that we need to do more,” said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. “We all know we need to act, but no country can defeat trafficking on its own. Together we can make a real difference in addressing human trafficking, protecting victims’ rights, and strengthening assistance.”
“Sadly, while this conference takes place, the full-scale Russian military aggression against Ukraine continues,” said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau. “Every day brings new reports on killed, injured and displaced civilians. Millions of them, mostly women, children and the elderly, have already left Ukraine and arrived in the neighboring countries, mostly in Poland. The Polish Border Guard, Police and other authorities have taken steps to prevent and counter human trafficking. Preventing and countering trafficking in human beings is a responsibility of all the OSCE participating States,” he added.