National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs from across the OSCE and Council of Europe regions gather in Vienna today and tomorrow for their 10th annual meeting, with representatives from 60 countries. This is the 9th such meeting jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Building on the OSCE political commitments and the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, this joint meeting creates a unique platform to identify synergies and mutually reinforce efforts in combating human trafficking, translating shared standards into concrete action, and ensuring that victims and survivors receive consistent protection and support across all participating and member States.
At a time when traffickers are adapting and using technology at increasing speed, the need for co-ordinated action has never been greater: "Ten years of this annual meeting represent ten years of collective resolve. Human trafficking remains a persistent crime that thrives on silence and impunity. This meeting is a testament to our shared determination to ensure that every victim is seen, every survivor supported, and every trafficker held to account," said Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
“Multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential for the success of our efforts to combat human trafficking. This year’s meeting brings around the table two groups of actors that can play an important role in the fight against human trafficking: local and regional authorities, and penitentiary services,” noted Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Anti-Trafficking Convention.
The two-day meeting features three thematic sessions:
- Integrating anti-trafficking responses into broader organized crime strategies;
- Enhancing the role of municipalities and regions in prevention and victim referral;
- Improving victim identification in detention settings and applying the non-punishment principle.
A dedicated working group is exploring how local and regional authorities can improve victim identification and referral, strengthen multi-agency partnerships, and ensure equitable access to protection and assistance across regions.
