3.5
The Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating
Trafficking in Human Beings
Background
The Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in
Human Beings (OSR/CTHB) pays considerable attention to facilitating awareness raising of
the police, promoting the human rights-based approach, calling for better co-operation
between the law enforcement and the civil society institutions, especially NGOs – the main
service providers for the THB victims. The OSR advocates for the establishment of the
National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which has been developed by the ODIHR. The OSR
closely co-operates with the SPMU on those activities which touch upon or otherwise relate
to police aspects of countering THB.
In 2010, six professional staff members of the Office of the Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings were fully engaged in addressing
Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) as an integral part of organized crime, and especially its
new dimension of a serious transnational threat.
Trafficking in Human Beings
With a view to overcome the lack of knowledge on the criminal aspects of trafficking in
human beings, in 2010, the OSR/CTHB, in co-operation with UN.GIFT, completed the
research Analysing the Business Model of Trafficking in Human Beings to Better Prevent the
Crime, carried out by globally recognized experts in the fields of criminology, social science,
migration, gender, and trafficking in human beings. This research was designed to provide a
new perspective on trafficking, still viewed by many through the lens of illegal migration. The
research includes various models and cases, addresses the challenging area of the
prevention of this lucrative crime in the first place, and contributes to awareness raising, improving knowledge of this complex issue in the participating States. The research is a clear
proof of the organized crime nature of THB, as well as its integral links with other forms of
organized crime, such as corruption, money laundering, documents’ fraud, illegal migration,
rape, kidnapping, violence, and many others. Its business model analysis helps to identify
crucial elements to consider when designing and implementing anti-trafficking legislation,
policies and interventions. The research was published and widely distributed among
participating States and international organizations, and is being translated into Russian.
In 2010, the OSR/CTHB also provided comments on the 2007-2010 CIS Programme of Cooperation in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings with a view to contribute to the draft
2011-2013 programme which was adopted in December 2010 by the CIS Heads of State.
Having as a background the OSCE Ministerial Decision MC.DEC/16/05 on Highest
Standards of Conduct and Accountability of Persons Serving on International Missions and
Forces, as well as the OSCE and NATO Codes of Conduct, the OSR, on 25-26 February,
contributed to the one-week training programme, by the NATO Partnership for Peace
Training Centre in Ankara. The training aimed to provide NATO personnel with a basic
knowledge of trafficking in human beings and raise awareness of this phenomenon as a
serious crime and human rights violation. The OSR/CTHB contribution focused on the
human rights-based approach to THB, and aimed at preventing the involvement of NATO
and Partners’ personnel in facilitating trafficking or using the services of trafficked persons.
On 19-20 April, the OSR/CTHB provided technical assistance to the CIS International
Training Centre in Minsk by contributing to the training course “Counteraction to trafficking in
human beings: the systems analysis, international cooperation and perfection of the law
enforcement practices”. 38 participants from the police, public prosecutors’ offices, border
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