The 25th Conference of the Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons, titled “Protecting Childhoods, Shaping the Future: A Call to End Child Trafficking,” opened today in Vienna with the participation of representatives from international organizations, civil society across the OSCE region, and national institutions. This year’s conference is an opportunity to reflect on two decades of efforts in combating child trafficking, starting from the adoption of the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in 2003 and its supplementary document on the protection of child victims in 2005.
“However, despite significant efforts over the past two decades, child trafficking remains widespread in the OSCE region and globally, while translating OSCE commitments into practical solutions remains a major challenge,” stated the Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons in its invitation.
On the first day of the conference, speakers emphasized the various forms of child trafficking and the importance of timely and preventive action.
OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Kari Johnstone, opened the conference and welcomed all participants. She emphasized that she was “especially pleased that all OSCE member states are present,” as she believes this “demonstrates the importance of this issue.”
Leena Meri, Finland’s Minister of Justice and representative of this year’s OSCE Chairmanship, highlighted that although Finland was recently ranked as the country with the highest quality of life, challenges in combating child trafficking still persist.
Maria Telalian, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), stressed that child trafficking constitutes a violation of human rights.
“Children are not only beneficiaries of protection services but also agents of change, and their voices must be heard. Survivors hold the key to change,” said Telalian.
Building on Telalian’s remarks, Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, pointed out that children living in conflict zones are particularly at risk and are “victims of numerous forms of trafficking.”
“Today, children are more often punished for offenses committed while being trafficked than they are provided with support and assistance,” Mullally stated.
At the end of her speech, Mullally emphasized that, according to United Nations data, more than 14,000 children living in conflict zones have been killed, and as she pointed out, as many as one million have been displaced.
“It is crucial for member states to adhere to proclaimed documents and commitments concerning children, including child trafficking. Child trafficking can be prevented,” underscored UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Siobhán Mullally.
Stephen Kavanagh, Secretary General of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), agreed that preventive action is the best approach.
“For too long, we have waited for something to happen and make headlines, instead of implementing preventive measures whenever and wherever possible. Today, it is estimated that 50 million people are trapped in human trafficking and modern slavery—a population the size of Spain,” Kavanagh emphasized.
Highlighting the urgency of response, Austrian artist Laurent Ziegler shared his personal experience as a trafficking survivor.
“The reality for a child who is exploited is that they have no air to breathe, they are invisible, just trying to survive day by day. It is a miracle that I am here with you today, able to share the story of so many children who never had the chance,” Ziegler said.
Data still shows that women and girls remain the most common victims of human trafficking, stated Angela Me from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). According to her, women and girls account for more than 60% of victims worldwide.
Zuzana Király, a prosecutor from Slovakia, pointed out that child traffickers can sometimes be those closest to the victim.
“When we talk about forced marriage as a form of child trafficking, the most frequent perpetrators are the victims’ parents,” said Király.
Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, former UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, reminded attendees that “child trafficking is on the rise,” stating that 12% of all victims of forced labor are children.
At the conclusion of the first day’s panel, Senator Linda Reynolds from Western Australia warned that even charity can have a dark side, explaining that a charitable cause does not make the situation itself charitable. She cited orphanage trafficking as an example.
The Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons, established in 2004, serves as a key framework for advocacy and cooperation in the fight against human trafficking in the OSCE region, promoting human rights protection, the rule of law, and good governance.