Combating Human Trafficking along Migration Routes

OSCE/Diana M photo

By

Cecilia Sandroni

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings is organizing the fourth live simulation/training course: Combating Human Trafficking along Migration Routes – from 10-14 December 2018.

Throughout the ealier stages of this innovative training simulation course nearly 200 practitioners participated in three simulation-based learning exercises in English language at the training facilities of CoESPU. In January 2018, the first training exclusively for Italian practitioners was conducted for 55 trainees. A live exercise in Russian language took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, last month for 57 participants. The forthcoming December session will be the fourth international simulation-based training organized by the OSCE and CoESPU. The courses consist of realistic simulations of cases of labour and sexual exploitation among migrants, including child victims. Each simulation scenario strives to emphasize the constitutive elements of THB (the act, the means, and the purpose).

The OSCE region is witnessing major movements of people triggered by ongoing conflicts, general instability and a lack of economic opportunities in neighbouring regions. These “mixed-migration flows” are comprised of refugees and economic migrants who are highly vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.

Against this backdrop, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in line with its mandate and identified priorities – in 2016 developed the project “Combating Human Trafficking along Migration Routes” as a response to the current migration crisis and its linkages with human trafficking.

The project aims at enhancing the capacity of interested OSCE participating States (and Partners for Co-operation) to effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking in human beings, as well as to promptly identify trafficked persons along migration routes by promoting a multi-agency and human rights-based approach.

This initiative is undertaken in partnership with the Italian Carabinieri and the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU) in Vicenza, Italy and is currently funded by Andorra, Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

A multi-agency and human rights-based approach to counter human trafficking

Targeted participants are practitioners from law enforcement, the judiciary, labour inspection, municipal social services, civil society organizations and the media. During the simulations, trainees hone their skills to pay attention both to the effectiveness of investigation and prosecution on the one hand and to the protection of human rights through a victim-centred approach on the other. An important goal of the exercises is also to promote the use of financial investigations.

Consolidation and promotion of a pioneering capacity-building method

The Office of the Special Representative will develop a handbook on how to conduct simulation-based learning exercises on trafficking in human beings. This will provide clear guidance to interested participating States and partners for co-operation with innovative training exercises to enhance their capacity for human rights-compliant investigations into human trafficking.

Professional skills, requested flexibility and adaptability

Participants must prove relevant experience in combating human trafficking in their respective fields of work. They must also comply with accepted standards of professional ethics.

In addition, participants will need to be able:

• to work under arduous conditions with a limited network of support, unpredictable working hours and a considerable workload;

• to work professionally as a member of a team, in task forces and working groups with mixed composition (e.g. law enforcement, labour inspectors, financial investigators, prosecutors, social workers, civil society experts and media).

Please see this video and visit https://www.osce.org/projects/cthblivex for more information

Cecilia Sandroni

Cecilia Sandroni is a member of the Foreign Press in Rome, in addition to being an expert of international relations in communication. Her skills range from film to photography with a passion for human rights. Independent, creative, concrete, she has collaborated with major Italian and foreign institutions for the realization of cultural and civil projects.