News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Anti-trafficking leaders call for stronger national leadership and political will from States to combat human trafficking
Publishing date: 19 April 2023
VIENNA, 19 April 2023 – Anti-trafficking leaders at the 23rd Conference of the Alliance against Trafficking in Persons urged the 57 participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to strengthen their response to prevent and eradicate human trafficking, by generating the necessary political will to tackle the issue.
OSCE and UN Special Reps statement on trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and sexual violence in the context of war against Ukraine
Publishing date: 29 March 2023
STOCKHOLM, 29 March 2023 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Valiant Richey, and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, expressed their grave concern about the harm of sexual exploitation, and sexual violence and its cost for the whole of society, as a result of the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Differences between trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants focus of OSCE-supported training course
Publishing date: 22 March 2023
More than 40 representatives of the BiH Border Police, BiH State Investigation and Protection Agency, Service for Foreigners' Affairs and BiH Prosecutor’s Office attended a three-day, multi-sectoral training course on the differences between trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants, which concluded on 22 March 2023 in Sarajevo. The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-ordination with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
OSCE Special Representative visits Kyrgyzstan, commends anti-trafficking legal framework and urges more prosecutions
Publishing date: 17 February 2023
BISHKEK, 17 February 2023 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan today. He highlighted the country’s comprehensive legal and policy framework including a dedicated anti-trafficking law, regional coordination councils and a National Rapporteur established under the Parliament. He also called for the proactive identification of victims, increased prosecutions of trafficking offenders and improvement of the mandate of labour inspectors to identify human trafficking.
Urgent steps needed to strengthen Bulgaria’s prevention and response to trafficking in human beings, say OSCE and Council of Europe
Publishing date: 31 January 2023
SOFIA, 31 January 2023- OSCE Special Representative Valiant Richey and the Executive Secretary to the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) Petya Nestorova called on Bulgaria to take urgent measures to strengthen its prevention and response to trafficking in human beings.
Call for joining forces to prevent a human trafficking crisis focus of side event at OSCE Ministerial Council
Publishing date: 1 December 2022
A strong and joint commitment to strengthening efforts to prevent and eradicate trafficking in human beings, amid the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II was at the centre of a side event held on the margins of the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council in Łódź, Poland, today.
OSCE Special Representative visits the United Kingdom, calls for strong leadership to reaffirm commitment to combat human trafficking
Publishing date: 11 November 2022
LONDON/EDINBURGH, 11 November 2022 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his five-day visit to the United Kingdom today. While highlighting the UK’s rich history at the vanguard of global anti-trafficking effort, including its pioneering Modern Slavery Act, he expressed concern that a stalled anti-slavery agenda risked undermining past achievements.