OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB)

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 🔈🔉 🔊 At the #OSCEMC2024 in Valletta today, we organized a side event dedicated to small nations' unique hurdles in combating human trafficking. #HumanTrafficking knows no borders, and our discussions highlighted the risks and benefits found in these nimble environments. Streamlining inter-agency collaboration, strengthening transparency, data sharing, and capacity-building emerged as vital steps toward significantly improved response and prosecution efforts. We also focused on the need for comprehensive, victim-centered legislation to fill legislative gaps that might weaken protections and prosecution capabilities. Our event also stressed the importance of international collaboration, recognizing that partnerships with global bodies provide crucial resources, technical assistance, and training. "The size of a State does not define the scale of its potential to contribute to global challenges," said OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB) SR Kari Johnstone in her opening remarks. "Small States have the agility to adapt, the ability to foster partnerships to amplify their reach, and the potential for innovation to tackle even the most sophisticated trafficking networks, turning obstacles into opportunities." Participants left with practical insights into strengthening institutional capacities and fostering strategic multi-stakeholder partnerships tailored to their unique needs. Looking ahead, the outcomes of our discussions will be compiled into a toolkit/policy summary designed to empower small states with the strategies and resources they need to effectively combat human trafficking. 🙏 🙏Thank you to all who participated and contributed to these vital discussions!

Thank you to #Malta, #Cyprus, and #Iceland for co-hosting today's side event at the #OSCEMC2024. Special thanks to the CiO Ian Borg for participating and our excellent panelists: Angelo Gafa', Nina Gregori of #EUAsylumAgency, Hildur Sunna Pálmadóttir, Christos Makriyiannis, and Steven Hill.

What a thrilling week in Brussels, Geneva, and Malta! Huge thanks to the #EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Diane Schmitt for inviting me to speak at the meeting of EU National Anti-Trafficking Coordinators and Rapporteurs for an important discussion on migration and human trafficking, as well as my excellent fellow panelists. My deep thanks also to Eurochild President H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Secretary General @SabineSaliba for their leadership in helping children thrive and keeping them safe from #HumanTrafficking. It was an honor to speak at the UN Procurement Task Force meeting on preventing #HumanTrafficking in supply chains of UN agencies and the other 16 organizations in the TF--thanks to #ILO and #UNOPS for co-chairing the TF and ILO for hosting us in Geneva. Finally, what a privilege and thrill to chair a side event on "Small Nations, Big Impact" in combating human trafficking at the #OSCE Ministerial Council in #Malta - OSCE24. My deep gratitude to CiO Ian Borg and Chair Natasha Meli Daudey for their unswerving leadership and support for #CTHB and the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Borg in our side event. Reflecting on this week, I am struck by how rich and diverse the fight against human trafficking is and how many fantastic partners come together to prevent trafficking, protect victims/survivors, and hold the perpetrators accountable. We need such broad coalitions of stakeholders to adapt, innovate, and learn together to be more effective and collaborative in our efforts. Thank you to all of you who work together and in your own ways to make an impact on human lives. At the end of the day, it's all about the human beings we seek to protect, empower, and help thrive in this world.

At this morning's MALTA - OSCE24 Ministerial Council #OSCEMC24 side event co-hosted by OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus & the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, we discussed how small nations, like Malta, can lead the charge in combating human trafficking with agile and innovative solutions. Armed conflict, poverty, and marginalisation continue to fuel this global crisis. Together, we must work to prevent even one more victim.

🛑Trafficking in human beings is both a human rights issue and a security threat. 💡OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB) helps transform our communities and bolsters resilience in our systems to protect vulnerable people and prevent exploitation at its core. At this year’s OSCE Ministerial Council, the impact of this work is under discussion among ministers and officials from across the OSCE region. Follow us for more updates on #OSCEMC2024.

I am pleased to announce that, in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS) version of the OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB) publication on the Nexus Between Disabilities and Human Trafficking is now available online. This important resource is designed to support professionals in the fields of disability rights, human rights, and anti-trafficking in better understanding the intersection of disability and human trafficking and responding effectively to this critical issue. I hope this version of the publication will contribute to enhancing protection and support for persons with disabilities who are vulnerable to or have experienced trafficking. #HumanRights #DisabilityInclusion #EndHumanTrafficking #OSCE Zadovoljstvo mi je objaviti da je, u znak obiljžavanja Međunarodnog dana osoba s invaliditetom, BHS verzija publikacije OSR/CTHB (OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB)) vezi između invaliditeta i trgovine ljudima sada dostupna na internetu. Ovaj važan resurs je dizajniran da podrži profesionalce u oblasti prava osoba sa invaliditetom, ljudskih prava i borbe protiv trgovine ljudima u boljem razumevanju ukrštanja invaliditeta i trgovine ljudima i efikasnom odgovoru na ovo kritično pitanje. Nadam se da će ova verzija publikacije doprinijeti jačanju zaštite i podrške osobama sa invaliditetom koje su ranjive ili su iskusile trgovinu ljudima. #HumanRights #DisabilityInclusion #EndHumanTrafficking #OSCE

Together with the Money Laundering Reporting Office of Switzerland (#MROS), we have just launched Switzerland’s first dedicated anti-trafficking guide for financial institutions and intermediaries. The guide, presented at an event in Bern, aims to ramp up financial sector action to identify and prevent human trafficking in financial flows. It was developed under the auspices of the “Financial Intelligence against Human Trafficking” (#FIAHT) project that was kicked off in January 2024 by OSCE and MROS. Throughout the year, multiple public and private sector stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies across Switzerland, exchanged information on human trafficking risks and patterns. This culminated in the creation and launch of specialized guidance aimed at the financial services industry. Learn more 👇 https://lnkd.in/g59nh2Mq

With all that’s going on in the world, it’s easy to lose sight of the risks of #humantrafficking heightened by the war against #Ukraine. We must maintain vigilance, protect those fleeing the war in and outside of Ukraine, and prevent trafficking of increasingly vulnerable people. Check out the link below to learn about current risks and how to #BeSafe.

Today, on World Children's Day, we would like to honor the promise we made to children 35 years ago, when the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted.— to protect children from all forms of violence and exploitation including human trafficking and to uphold their rights in particular their right to grow up in save and caring family environment. This week, we partnered with organizations in Ireland and the UK to raise awareness about combating orphanage tourism and orphanage trafficking. In London, we co-hosted a parliamentary roundtable with Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), Inter-Parliamentary Union Uk, the Griffith University (Law Future Center) and OSCE Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB) . The discussions with UK parliamentarians and the Foreign Office were encouraging and highlighted the crucial role of parliamentarians in taking national-level action. We then traveled to Ireland, where we collaborated with Tearfund Ireland, Misean Cara and Comhlámh, Irish Association of Development Workers and Volunteers to address the nexus between child institutionalization and child trafficking, particularly the phenomenon of orphanage trafficking. These conversations have been hopeful, but there is still much more to be done. We must: 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 on the harm of institutionalizing children 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 for the rights of every child 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 to protect children from exploitation and trafficking 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 to create a comprehensive approach to combat orphanage trafficking Let’s continue working together to create a saver world for all children. Special thanks to Dr Kate van Doore, it has been a great honour to be on that journey with you and I look forward to what comes next.