Publications

This Report Update provides a short overview of the core values and unique methodology of the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, a recap of its projects and activities in 2023, and a preview of priority areas for 2024.

This paper provides an overview of the existing links between disability and trafficking in human beings, how persons living with disability are affected by trafficking, and to what extent legal standards, policy frameworks, and anti-trafficking measures integrate concerns associated with disabilities. This analysis is approached from four distinct perspectives: disability as an enhanced vulnerability factor that traffickers target; disability as a feature of exploitation; disability as a result of trafficking and exploitation; and disability of trafficking survivors as a factor in accessing justice, protection, employment, health, and rehabilitation services. Finally, the paper presents a series of recommendations and potential strategies aimed at elevating awareness and prioritizing the disability dimension within efforts to combat human trafficking.

First-line responders are the first point of contact and information for people requiring assistance in migration and humanitarian crises. While driven by good intentions, some, particularly new civil society organizations, volunteers, and other supporters, might lack knowledge and experience in the context, including as it relates to the risks of trafficking in human beings. To address this gap, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings developed a Code of Conduct that suggests some key steps to be undertaken by first-line responders to ensure that their staff is sensitized to the risks of human trafficking and does not unintendedly contribute to endangering the beneficiaries or colleagues.

Capacity-building of relevant stakeholders, particularly those working on the front lines of humanitarian crises, is a key component of participating States’ anti-trafficking response. To support counterparts to minimize risks of human trafficking and work proactively to identify and assist victims, several international and non-governmental organizations have developed and are providing a number of training opportunities. The OSR/CTHB, through this resource, aims to facilitate access of related actors to such opportunities by compiling training courses and modules- that are readily available to or can be requested by authorities and organizations operating on the ground- on several issues connected with addressing trafficking in human beings in the context of the humanitarian crisis generated by the war against Ukraine.

As migration and humanitarian crises always demonstrate, first-line responders are the first point of contact and information for people requiring assistance. Having a variety of occupations, ranging from civil society organizations to international relief agencies and international organizations, their priority, in particular within the reception setting, is to attend to people’s immediate needs, such as food, accommodation, and medical care. Their capacity is often overstretched, and they may not have specialized anti-trafficking knowledge and expertise. To address this gap, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings developed an awareness-raising brief that would sensitize first-line responders to human trafficking risks, provide information on THB signs and indicators and on how to address presumed cases in a gender-sensitive, age-appropriate and trauma-informed manner.

This Brief summarizes the findings of the report "Mapping the online landscape of risks of trafficking in human beings on sexual services websites across the OSCE region." First of its kind, this report was designed to identify — in 40 OSCE participating States — the market-leading online sites and platforms for the explicit and non-explicit selling of sexual services where victims of THB for sexual exploitation could be advertised. The report's findings are based on the mapping and analysis of almost 2,900 sex services websites across the OSCE region, containing over 3 million advertisements; detailed information about how these websites operate is provided. The research also lists information and data associated with the sites and, through an analysis based on trafficking indicators, examines whether they can be exposed to human trafficking's risks.

Effectively combating trafficking in human beings requires a strategic, co-ordinated, and well-resourced national response, utilizing a whole-of-society approach that can protect victims, prosecute traffickers and prevent exploitation. National Action Plans (NAPs) are fundamental to successfully delivering such a response. Recognizing the importance of NAPs within national anti-trafficking systems, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings analyzed the NAPs that are currently in use within the OSCE region to examine their structure and thematic priorities against persistent challenges and emerging trafficking trends.

This publication offers a discussion on why and how to adopt a ‘social path’ approach to identifying and assisting victims of trafficking in human beings, irrespective of their willingness to participate in criminal proceedings. Based on a review of international law, engagement between the Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE participating States, and a desk review of the information available about the emerging ‘social path’ practices, it is a reference and advocacy tool to support the introduction of the ‘social’ path framework at the national level.

This second revised edition of the procurement guidance is a key document facilitating the implementation of anti-trafficking measures in OSCE’s own procurement across its executive structures and aligning the OSCE’s mandates with its processes. The guidance aims to support procurement and anti-trafficking staff in the OSCE with the background knowledge to implement anti-trafficking measures in procurement activities alongside training workshops, procurement risk analyses, and local action plans. Preventing trafficking and labour exploitation in supply chains is no easy task. By following these steps, the OSCE is developing further expertise and is supporting OSCE participating States and the international community in their ongoing efforts to prevent trafficking for forced labour in their supply chains.