OSCE hosts meeting of 51 National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs in Vienna

Hosted by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, a  meeting of National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs from across the OSCE regional framework concluded on 30 June 2017 at the Hofburg, Vienna.

Fifty-one participants from 42 OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation discussed how best to address current human trafficking-related challenges in the OSCE region and foster the implementation of relevant OSCE commitments, including through joint action.

“While you have had other opportunities to meet in your national capacities at a variety of regional and inter-governmental events, today is the first time since 2012 that my Office is hosting such a meeting within the OSCE regional framework. I look forward to further joint actions and initiatives on a more regular basis,” said Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Participants discussed the results of the 2016 Survey Report, which offers a comprehensive overview of the status of current efforts to implement anti-trafficking commitments and recommended actions to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings across the OSCE region.

“Completed with relevant national authorities and civil society organizations from 52 of the 57 OSCE participating States and over 90 NGOs, the results of the Survey Report are invaluable in demonstrating what we have achieved to date, but also more importantly, which gaps remain,” stated Ruth Pojman, Senior Adviser at the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs also explored how the practical and child-focused recommendations from the 17th Alliance conference, “Trafficking in Children and the Best Interests of the Child”, could be most efficiently implemented to help participating States meet their OSCE anti-trafficking commitments.

The session concluded with participants examining how best to further unite efforts to counter human trafficking, both within individual participating States, and across the OSCE area as a whole.