OSCE Mission in Kosovo

Anti-trafficking

Students of Gjon Buzuku High School consult anti-trafficking leaflets at an OSCE-sponsored debate between relevant anti-trafficking stakeholders and high school students, Prizren, 2 December 2010. (OSCE/Mevlyde Salihu)
Students of Gjon Buzuku High School consult anti-trafficking leaflets at an OSCE-sponsored debate between relevant anti-trafficking stakeholders and high school students, Prizren, 2 December 2010. (OSCE/Mevlyde Salihu)

To address the problem of internal and external trafficking in human beingsin Kosovo, the Mission co-operates with a number of local partners. These include central level institutions, such as the Kosovo inter-ministerial working group on anti-trafficking and the anti-trafficking co-ordinator, as well as local level counterparts such as local police, social workers, victims' advocates, teachers; labour, trade and sanitary inspectors, and non-governmental organizations.

The Mission monitors their work and provides advice on how to improve compliance with international human rights and rule of law standards and to ensure a co-ordinated approach. The Mission's guidance is based on the OSCE Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and other relevant documents issued by OSCE institutions.

Based on the monitoring results, the Mission advises local partners on how to better implement the Kosovo Strategy and Action Plan Against Trafficking in Human Beings for 2008-2011, and holds training sessions on anti-trafficking issues for primary school teachers, and customs and police officers. The Mission is involved in improving inter-ministerial co-operation by conducting projects that involve several ministries, such as supporting the Ministry of Justice in their efforts to establish an anti-trafficking helpline.

In an effort to raise awareness and inform potential victims of the risks of human trafficking, the Mission also conducts and supports public information campaigns. These efforts will continue throughout 2011 with a focus on the young rural population and non-Albanian communities.

The two major objectives for the upcoming year will be the establishment of a rapporteur on trafficking in human beings as an analysis, monitoring and reporting body, and the introduction of a viable victim compensation scheme.