thers the development of international and national stan- 6. The Anti-Trafficking Project Fund dards to prevent trafficking, to prosecute perpetrators, and, most importantly, to protect the human rights of victims. The ODIHR established the Anti-Trafficking Project Fund in The ODIHR actively participates in several co-ordination 2001 to encourage the development and implementation of and standard-setting forums, including the Stability Pact projects and activities by OSCE field missions that address Task Force. trafficking in human beings and associated human rights abuses. OSCE field operations are actively involved in the implementation of projects under this initiative. From mid-2001 Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings to the end of 2003, the Fund supported more than 35 anti- www.osce.org/attf trafficking projects in 14 OSCE countries, as well as a number of regional activities. Through administering the Fund, the ODIHR seeks to enhance its co-operation with the field (e.g., Furthermore, in May 2003, the Council of Europe Commit- provide expertise, promote information-sharing and ex- tee of Ministers established an ad hoc committee on action change of best practices, formulate overall regional perspec- against trafficking in human beings (CAHTEH) in order to tives, etc.) and to address diverse and urgent anti-trafficking prepare a European convention on the issue. On behalf of priorities that may arise throughout the OSCE region. the OSCE, the ODIHR Anti-Trafficking Unit is participating in the negotiations as a member of the CAHTEH committee In most cases, direct beneficiaries are local project partners such as anti-trafficking non-governmental organizations, atrisk groups, trafficked persons, and relevant government agencies. In this respect, many projects supported through the Fund facilitate contacts between the OSCE and local actors that combat trafficking and promote the development of local capacity to combat trafficking and to assist victims. with observer status. The Council of Europe reiterated that the new convention would seek to build the legal framework for the OSCE Action Plan. “The ODIHR's regional expertise on victim protection and prevention aspects of human trafficking allowed the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje last year to successfully use donor funds targeting antitrafficking awareness-raising projects with domestic NGO partners. The ODIHR’s substantial financial and technical assistance enabled our Rule of Law Unit to co-sponsor close to 20 specialized training workshops targeting almost 300 legal professionals (prosecutors, criminal judges, investigative judges, and lawyers) on improving prosecution and fair trials in cases of human trafficking in the country. These specialized training initiatives are bearing fruit. According to a number of Macedonian legal professionals, the specialized training workshops provided them with practical and useful knowledge allowing them to better prepare the investigation and strategy for their cases. We have noted in multiple instances how judges and prosecutors - beneficiaries of the specialized training sessions - have been successfully applying their newly acquired counter-trafficking skills and workshop recommendations to actual cases before them in court.” Future priorities The ODIHR is currently developing a handbook on guidelines and principles to design and implement National Referral Mechanisms. The ODIHR is prepared to assist participating States in establishing NRMs. In this regard, while designing and implementing relevant training sessions, the ODIHR will collaborate with OSCE field missions and the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit. The ODIHR will continue to assist participating States in their efforts to reform domestic legislation and to bring it into compliance with international standards such as the UN Anti-Trafficking Protocol. The ODIHR will continue this work Geraldine Bjallerstedt is a Senior Rule of Law Officer (Anti-Trafficking) at the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje. in co-operation with relevant partners, especially grass-roots 36