News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Statement by OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings on need to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts in a time of crisis
Publishing date: 3 April 2020
VIENNA, 3 April 2020 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, today issued the following statement, in co-ordination with Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship, to the OSCE participating States on the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged that, “it is precisely when our global community is convulsed by a crisis of this magnitude that our obligation to combat the exploitation of vulnerable people becomes most acute”...
Trafficking of human beings and related crimes focus of OSCE-supported training course for judges and prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 28 February 2020
A one-day training course for judges and prosecutors from across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on addressing the trafficking in human beings and related crimes was held on 28 February 2020 in Banjaluka. The training was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH in co-operation with entity judicial and prosecutorial training centres (JPTC)...
Watching our electronics supply chains: OSCE joins Electronics Watch
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
The OSCE is one step further in eradicating exploitation from its electronics supply chains, having joined Electronics Watch, the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, announced on 27 February 2020. This independent watchdog will be monitoring the production locations of electronics hardware procured and engaging with the industry. The OSCE is setting in practice its policy of transparency in purchasing procedures...
On visit to Ireland, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings urges more prosecutions of traffickers and increased victim assistance
Publishing date: 21 February 2020
VIENNA, 21 February 2020 – After a stalled response to human trafficking, Irish officials are showing a renewed commitment to addressing the issue, according to Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, as he concluded on 20 February a three-day visit to Ireland to observe its response to trafficking and to provide recommendations on ways to strengthen it.
Combating trafficking in human beings focus of OSCE-supported training seminar in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 17 December 2019
A two-day training seminar on combating human trafficking concluded on 13 December 2019 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Regional workshop in Malta explores how to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling through a multi-disciplinary approach and multi-level co-operation
Publishing date: 12 December 2019
How to combat human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants through a multi-disciplinary approach and multi-level co-operation was the focus of a regional workshop for government and law enforcement officials held in Valletta on 9 and 10 December 2019...
Leading by example: OSCE organizes meeting of ICAT and UN Procurement Task Force to co-ordinate efforts to prevent trafficking in supply chains
Publishing date: 10 December 2019
What if the seafood served in the cafeteria at your organization was caught and processed as a result of trafficked labour occurring on the other side of the world? Preventing labour exploitation in supply chains was the focus of a meeting organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for members of the Inter-agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) and the UN’s Procurement Task Force in Vienna on 10 December 2019...