News and press releases

The OSCE provided specialized vehicles and equipment to the General Inspectorate of Border Police during a ceremony held on 3 October 2024 in Chisinau, Moldova. This was done in support of Moldova’s efforts in preventing and addressing transnational organized crime.

A regional conference addressing human trafficking in global supply chains, hosted by the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, concluded today in Budva, Montenegro. The event brought together around 40 participants from nine countries, including representatives from government agencies, embassies, businesses, chambers of commerce, trade unions, and civil society organizations. Representatives from the EU also attended. Key outcomes included updating stakeholders on the latest developments in integrating human rights due diligence into legal and regulatory frameworks in the EU and globally and their implications for the private sector, including beyond EU borders. Best practices from countries outside South-Eastern Europe, including Germany and Norway, were also shared.

VIENNA, 12 September 2024- Measures to enhance national and regional anti-trafficking responses and strengthen their impact were the focus of the largest annual meeting of the National Anti-trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs, which kicked off today at OSCE headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

HELSINKI, 30 August 2024 – Dr. Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded her five-day visit to Helsinki today. She praised Finland's active involvement in anti-trafficking efforts led by strong structures including a proactive National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and an independent National Rapporteur.

VALLETTA/VIENNA/WARSAW, 30 July 2024 – Marking World Day against Trafficking in Persons, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Kari Johnstone underscored the need to strengthen collaborative efforts to identify victims of human trafficking and prevent exploitation of the most vulnerable, particularly children.

PARIS, 5 July 2024 – Kari Johnstone, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Human Trafficking, concluded her two-day visit to France yesterday. At the invitation of French national authorities, she engaged in constructive discussions with government officials, anti-trafficking stakeholders and civil society organizations.

On 20 June at the Vienna Hofburg, the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the Transnational Threats Department co-organized a side event centered on understanding women’s agency and consent in cases of trafficking in human beings (THB).