ANNUAL REPORT 2003
anisms (NRM). Through such mechanisms, state actors can Democratization Trafficking in Human Beings Current responses to trafficking in human beings in fulfill their obligations to protect and promote the human Western Europe, with a particular focus on victim assis- rights of trafficked persons in co-ordination and strategic tance and protection issues, based on NGO country partnership with civil society and other actors dealing with reports; trafficking victims.
During an internal OSCE regional co-ordination meeting
NGO priorities for future advocacy efforts, as well as challenges to such initiatives; and held in Sarajevo in June 2002, it was agreed that the estab- Necessary components for more-effective advocacy and assistance work. lishment of such National Referral Mechanisms is a key priority for ongoing OSCE anti-trafficking efforts. Consequent- After comparing developments at the national level and as- ly, the ODIHR has been developing a handbook on the sessing the level of human rights protection provided in each establishment of effective and inclusive National Referral country, the NGOs identified the following issues as priorities Mechanisms (including identification, referral, and assis- for future NGO advocacy efforts: tance) addressing all target groups as defined in the UN Protocol, which the OSCE participating States have committed
Provision of residency permits; themselves to ratify. The handbook will be published in early
Public-awareness work; 2004. The ODIHR has furthermore been tasked to assist par-
Identification of trafficked persons; ticipating States in establishing NRMs.
Adoption of UN Trafficking Protocol definition into national legislation and practice;
Strengthening co-operation between NGOs and governmental agencies; and 4. Focus on countries of destination
Provision of the right to work along with residency permits. In October 2001, the ODIHR, in co-operation with the Ger- These issues were subsequently addressed by these NGOs at man Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized the conference the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, where they “Europe Against Trafficking in Persons”, which focused on circulated a joint statement on “Protection Measures for anti-trafficking policies and measures in countries of desti- Trafficked Persons in Western Europe” and participated in a nation. This conference was the first European conference side meeting organized by the ODIHR. specifically addressing the situation and needs of trafficked persons in countries of destination. Participants elaborated a comprehensive set of recommendations in the areas of pre- 5. Co-ordinating efforts and mainstreaming antitrafficking issues vention, protection, and prosecution that, together with OSCE commitments, serve as the basis for the ODIHR’s antitrafficking activities in countries of destination. In order for the ODIHR’s anti-trafficking work to be most ef- With a view to analysing the implementation of these rec- fective, enhancing information exchange and co-operation ommendations, on 18-19 May 2003, the ODIHR, in co-oper- within the OSCE and with other relevant international or- ation with Anti-Slavery International, organized an assess- ganizations, governmental bodies, and NGOs is crucial. This ment meeting with anti-trafficking experts from Germany co-operation results in complementary efforts, avoiding du- (KOK), Greece (STOP NOW), Italy (On the Road), the Nether- plication and maximizing the use of limited resources to lands (STV), and the United Kingdom (Eaves Housing). The combat trafficking in human beings throughout the OSCE meeting aimed to assess: region. It also leads to the creation of joint projects and fur- 35