Combating Human Trafficking in Conflict Situations: The Role of Frontline Workers and National Referral Mechanisms

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is organizing an event where frontline responders from countries neighbouring Ukraine can share their experience on effective response systems to combat human trafficking of women and children, who can be especially vulnerable to trafficking. The event will be held on 19 July 2022 in Vienna, in the margins of the 2022 Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting III. The event  will gather frontline responders from Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, who will share their practical experiences dealing with the influx of refugees from Ukraine. The following issues will be discussed:

• What are current challenges to ensure identification and protection of women, children and unaccompanied minors fleeing from the armed conflict in Ukraine within transit countries?
• How are survivor and victim-centred, trauma-informed, gender- and child-sensitive approaches incorporated in protection strategies implemented at border crossings, reception facilities, other interim protection centres, etc. to combat trafficking of people fleeing armed conflict?
• Which multi-disciplinary frameworks exist at the local level, especially at border crossings, reception facilities and other interim protection centres, to ensure gender-sensitive and child-sensitive strategies to combat human trafficking in transit countries of refugees fleeing from the armed conflict in Ukraine?

Welcome remarks

Andrea Huber, Head of the ODIHR Human Rights Department

Youth address: Timur Tsiplienko, Youth Volunteer, Save Ukraine

Panel

Yulia Sachenko, Executive Director, A21 Ukraine

Yotam Polizer, Chief Executive Officer, IsraAID

Ioana Bauer, President of the Board, e-Liberare, Romania

Mirka Mittelmannova, Executive Director, Human Rights League, Slovakia

Joanna Garnier, Coordinator of Projects, La Strada Poland

Moderator: Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Trafficking Issues

Background

ODIHR has been active in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for more than 20 years. The Office is mandated to assist OSCE participating States in establishing National Referral Mechanisms, providing technical assistance in their development, and in monitoring and reporting on the implementation of NRMs in the participating States.

Registration

Participants are encouraged to register here.