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STRASBOURG, 12 September 2025 — National anti-trafficking coordinators and rapporteurs from 54 countries convened at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cross-sector partnerships and integrating crisis resilience into anti-trafficking strategies.
The two-day meeting, co-organized by the Council of Europe and the OSCE Office of the Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, focused on evolving challenges in both digital and physical trafficking landscapes. Participants emphasized the need for transformative action to address the growing mismatch between the scale of human trafficking and the limited reach of victim support and justice systems.
Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative, highlighted the urgency of adapting strategies to meet the realities of modern trafficking, noting that “criminals exploit every crisis and vulnerability, while victims face crushing barriers to assistance.”
Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, marked the Convention’s 20th anniversary by calling for renewed investment in training, technology, and victim services to close persistent implementation gaps.
Discussions included crisis-related provisions in national action plans, the intersection of trafficking with drug-related and forced criminality, and the role of private sector engagement in prevention and response. The meeting reinforced international legal standards and political commitments aimed at combating human trafficking with greater coordination and resilience.
Osce Europe Hq Picture by StagiaireMGIMO
