Establish victim compensation funds supplemented by assets confiscated from perpetrators to be used to compensate victims and fund NGOs and other related anti-trafficking activities; mechanisms between government structures and civil Establish national rapporteurs in OSCE participating States who could provide information to governments and advise them on areas of action in the fight against trafficking. 5. The Anti-Trafficking Project Fund society. The ODIHR established the Anti-Trafficking Project Fund in 2001 to encourage the development and im- The ODIHR will use these recommendations in plan- plementation of projects and activities by OSCE field ning follow-up anti-trafficking activities with OSCE par- missions that address trafficking in human beings and ticipating States. associated human-rights abuses. OSCE field operations should generally be actively involved in the implementation of projects under this initiative. Through admin- 4. Co-ordinating efforts and mainstreaming anti-trafficking issues istering the fund, the ODIHR seeks to enhance its cooperation with the field (e.g., by providing expertise, promoting information-sharing and exchange of best practices and formulating an overall regional perspec- For the ODIHR’s anti-trafficking work to be most effec- tive) and to address diverse and urgent anti-trafficking tive, information exchange and co-operation within priorities that may arise throughout the OSCE region. the OSCE and with other relevant international organizations, governmental bodies, and NGOs is crucial. This In most cases, direct beneficiaries are local project part- co-operation results in complementary efforts, avoid- ners such as anti-trafficking NGOs, at-risk groups, traf- ing duplication and maximizing the use of limited re- ficked persons, and relevant government agencies. In this sources to combat trafficking in human beings respect, many projects supported through the fund facil- throughout the OSCE region. It also leads to the cre- itate contacts between the OSCE and local actors that ation of joint projects and furthers the development of combat trafficking and promote the development of international and national standards to prevent traf- local capacity to combat trafficking and to assist victims. ficking, to prosecute perpetrators, and, most importantly, to protect the human rights of victims. Future priorities In 2003, the Council of Europe initiated the process of drafting a European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. On behalf of the OSCE, The ODIHR will continue to assist participating States in the ODIHR participated in the negotiations in 2004 as a fulfilling their commitments as outlined in the OSCE member with observer status of the ad hoc Committee Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings. on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings The main areas of activity will focus on: (CAHTEH). The ODIHR prepared a written contribution
to the draft convention, which was submitted to Developing a training methodology on the implementation of National Referral Mechanisms and CAHTEH for consideration and supported with oral their subsequent implementation; contributions by ODIHR representatives at CAHTEH
meetings. Its comments focused on issues in connection with victim protection and assistance and co-operation 38 Administering the Anti-Trafficking Project Fund to fulfill the tasks outlined above, as well as providing