Addressing Demand in Human Trafficking: Ensuring Survivor Voices in All Anti-Trafficking Policies

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) will organise a joint side event on “Ensuring Survivor Voices in All Anti-Trafficking Policies Addressing Demand for Trafficking in Human Beings” during the 21^st Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons Conference.

Objectives

The purpose of the side event is to provide a forum for discussion of ways to address demand for trafficking in human beings with a victim-centred, gender-sensitive and trauma-informed approach.

The event will showcase the advice, guidance and recommendations of the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC) regarding ODIHR’s anti-trafficking policies. This is meant to address demand for trafficking in human beings in OSCE participating States.

The event will also aim to foster the growth of national and international survivor networks, and survivor leadership so they can provide OSCE participating States with a valuable resource to strengthen national anti-trafficking efforts in implementing Palermo Protocol Article 9. It will also facilitate exchange of information among OSCE delegations, international experts, survivor leaders and civil society on ensuring that survivor voices are reflected in all demand-related anti-trafficking policies.

Background

The ICAT is a policy forum mandated to improve coordination among UN agencies and other relevant international organizations. The aim is to facilitate an integrated approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons.

The Alliance Conference is the largest annual OSCE anti-trafficking event that brings together representatives from OSCE delegations, law enforcement and civil society as well as international experts and survivors of trafficking. Its purpose is to raise the political profile of the fight against trafficking in human beings and discuss emerging topics and trends in this area. This year, the conference will put a spotlight on addressing demand as a means of preventing trafficking in human beings.

Speakers

Welcome remarks by:

• ODIHR representative TBC
• ICAT representative TBC

Panel presentations from 5 ISTAC Members:

• Timea Nagy (Canada)
• Itohan Okundaye (Finland)
• Jerome Elam (USA)
• Daniella De Luca (Spain)
• Regina Lee Jones (Norway)

The event will be moderated by Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Trafficking Issues. It will be held in English. Russian interpretation will be provided.

Registration

Those interested can register here:

https://odihr-pl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kcY-3nABQ6a5tI2WSPl7rQ