OSCE pioneering live exercise provides practitioners from 38 States with expertise to tackle human trafficking along migration routes

VICENZA, Italy, 9 June 2017 – The second five-day OSCE simulation-based training course on combating human trafficking along migration routes concluded today at the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, Italy.

The course provided 71 anti-trafficking practitionersanti-trafficking practitioners
Anti-trafficking practitioners include a broad range of professionals such as law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, migration officers or asylum authorities, lawyers, labour inspectors, social welfare practitioners, NGOs, and journalists. from 35 OSCE participating States and three Partners for Co-operation with improved knowledge of indicators for identifying trafficked persons among mixed groups of migrants. A cross-sectorial body of experts also practiced a multi-agency approach when investigating trafficking cases and prosecuting perpetrators.

The first day of the training focused on theoretical, methodological and technical issues related to anti-trafficking action in a mixed migration context. The remaining days were devoted to a live simulation exercise of sexual and labour exploitation cases among migrants, including unaccompanied minors and child victims. A victim-centered approach was adopted to ensure trainees not only focused on the effectiveness of their investigation and prosecution, but also on the human rights of victims. An important goal of the exercises was also to promote the use of financial investigations as an effective tool of combating human trafficking.

“We are proud to see this unique format growing in stature and we hope to see it continue to provide transferable guidance to interested participating States to enhance first-hand responders' human-rights compliant investigative and prosecutorial skills,” said Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. “The OSCE will further efforts to foster effective synergies between governmental institutions and NGOs which are critical to mitigate the consequences of the current migration crisis on vulnerable people.”

Building from the first live-simulation exercise held from 14 to 18 November 2016, this second exercise featured a number of innovations. Along with extended time for the simulation and debriefing sessions, a journalism component was introduced which saw media operating alongside financial investigators, criminal investigators, labour inspectors, prosecutors, social services providers, lawyers and cultural mediators. For the first time, potential links between terrorist groups and human trafficking organizations were also included in the scenarios.

“I am extremely pleased and honoured the OSCE has selected the Carabinieri as partners for the implementation of such an innovative, challenging, and very comprehensive training programme," said Brigadier General Giovanni Pietro Barbano, Director of CoESPU. "We are proud to have contributed, with expertise gained over 12 years of training activities, to what I believe represents an exemplary model for future capacity building.”

This extra-budgetary OSCE project is currently funded by Italy, Switzerland, Monaco, Germany, France, Austria, Andorra, and Hungary. Thirteen partners are also contributing to its implementation, including the Italian Carabinieri, the Municipalities of Venice and Vicenza, the University of Padova, EUNAVFOR and civil society networks and international organizations such as INTERPOL, CEPOL, UNHCR and ICMPD.

Against a backdrop of large irregular migration within and beyond the OSCE region, the Office of the Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings has developed a number of targeted initiatives to raise awareness and build capacities of participating States to ensure effective responses in humanitarian emergencies.