As a starting point for some of its work to promote a human rights approach to trafficking, ODIHR conducted a series of National Referral Mechanism assessments across the OSCE region.

The assessments evaluated national anti-trafficking structures, together with the policies and practices employed to identify trafficked persons, protect their rights, and ensure their access to justice and compensation.

The recommendations provided under the OSCE Action Plan and in the ODIHR's handbook on National Referral Mechanisms provide the main criteria against which these evaluations are made.

Assessments have been completed in Belarus, Russia, Turkey, France and the United Kingdom.

ODIHR has held roundtable discussions to present the findings, focusing on future action to improve the establishment of National Referral Mechanisms and enhance the identification of trafficked persons and protection of their rights.

Efforts are made to ensure that those responsible for anti-trafficking action in both the government and non-government sectors will act on the findings of these assessments.