News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
First national pilot OSCE anti-trafficking simulation exercise to highlight effective strategies and associated challenges in Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 12 December 2022
The OSCE Project Co-ordinator Office in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the National Commission on Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labour has started a pilot anti-trafficking simulation exercise at the premises of the Academy under the General Prosecutor’s Office on 12 December 2022 in Tashkent. Approximately 50 professionals from law enforcement agencies will gather for a five-day simulation exercise, including the representatives from the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Academy under the General Prosecutor’s Office, Agency on Social and Medical Support, lawyers and civil society organizations.
Call for joining forces to prevent a human trafficking crisis focus of side event at OSCE Ministerial Council
Publishing date: 1 December 2022
A strong and joint commitment to strengthening efforts to prevent and eradicate trafficking in human beings, amid the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II was at the centre of a side event held on the margins of the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council in Łódź, Poland, today.
OSCE Special Representative visits the United Kingdom, calls for strong leadership to reaffirm commitment to combat human trafficking
Publishing date: 11 November 2022
LONDON/EDINBURGH, 11 November 2022 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his five-day visit to the United Kingdom today. While highlighting the UK’s rich history at the vanguard of global anti-trafficking effort, including its pioneering Modern Slavery Act, he expressed concern that a stalled anti-slavery agenda risked undermining past achievements.
OSCE Special Representative visits Switzerland, welcomes multi-stakeholder approach to combating human trafficking and urges better identification and assistance to victims
Publishing date: 21 October 2022
ZURICH, 21 October 2022 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his three-day visit to Switzerland today. He commended the country’s multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach to anti-trafficking through cantonal roundtables. He also emphasized the need to step up identification and assistance to all victims of trafficking and boost prevention measures, particularly those related to the misuse of technology.
OSCE Special Representative visits Iceland, praises protection efforts for Ukrainian refugees and calls for greater vigilance to tackle online exploitation
Publishing date: 13 October 2022
REYKJAVIK, 13 October 2022 –Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his two-day visit to Iceland. He noted positive efforts the country made in combating human trafficking in recent years, and encouraged authorities to enhance their work on evolving threats, such as online exploitation.
OSCE Representative and U.S. Under Secretary call for more action to protect women and children fleeing war in Ukraine from human trafficking
Publishing date: 6 October 2022
WARSAW, 6 October 2022- Protecting Ukrainian women and children from risks of sexual exploitation was the focus of an event co-organised by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, held today on the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
Preventing human trafficking in supply chains focus of OSCE forum in Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 5 October 2022
Combating human trafficking and forced labour in supply chains of companies and public entities was the focus of a forum organised today in Tashkent by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in partnership with the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour of the Republic of Uzbekistan.