The Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe Updates Its Fight Against Human Trafficking

When, in July 2003, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) adopted its Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (THB), it was among the first international organizations to deal with this scourge in a coordinated manner.[2] Since the OSCE is a sui generis international institution adopting consensus-based decisions of a political rather than of a legal and mandatory nature, the purpose of the Action Plan was not to compel its participating States to adopt specific legislative and administrative measures. On the contrary, the aim was to to facilitate cooperation among participating States and to incorporate best practices in the anti-THB policies pursued by its various organs. Since 2000, participating States had given a clear mandate to the OSCE to address THB, especially as regards the criminal prosecution of perpetrators, the assistance to be given to victims as well as the protection of their rights.[3]