OSCE Special Representative praises government and civil society efforts to combat human trafficking in USA

WASHINGTON, DC, 12 February 2016 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, commended efforts by US Government and civil society in the fight against human trafficking at the end of her Official Country Visit on Friday.

During her two week visit, the Special Representative held meetings at both State and Federal levels with senior representatives from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, and State; the US Congress, the California Attorney General’s Office, the Los Angeles Task Force, the private sector, and a wide range of NGOs that provide assistance and support to victims, or are involved in advocacy on government policies. The Special Representative also met with several other prominent officials, including Ambassador-at-large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Susan Coppedge, and Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the Helsinki Commission.

“Government and civil society are both very active in the struggle against modern slavery,” Jarbussynova said. “I was impressed with the on-going efforts I learned about in New York and California as well as in Washington, DC, in developing innovative practices and robust laws, and I commend in particular the legislative measures aimed at combating human trafficking in supply chains.”

The Special Representative said that she looks forward to seeing more such policy and legislative initiatives both in the US and in other OSCE participating States, and will be closely following the implementation of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to strengthen protection against human trafficking in federal contracts, as well as the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. As always, the essential element is the actual implementation and enforcement of laws and policies, accompanied by the necessary financial and human resources.

During her country visit, Jarbussynova also visited a shelter and met human trafficking survivors and service providers in Washington, New York and California.

“I was very moved by the conversations I had with these people, and I am pleased to see that the US Advisory Council on human trafficking, comprised of survivors, was established. The critical voice of experience is thus applied to both policy and practice,” she said.

The Special Representative noted that civil society actors and survivors expressed hope that the US government would place an enhanced focus on protection and prevention, to ensure a balanced and comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking.