Summary:
The OSCE’s Special Representative for Combating Human Trafficking has visited Switzerland. He called for more focused actions to prevent the trafficking of women for prostitution, as well as address the rising trend of sexual exploitation of children online and address labour exploitation in business supply networks. He spoke about how technology is making it easier for people to be trafficked at a meeting in Bern about human trafficking and cybercrime.
The OSCE’s Valiant Richey, Special Representative for Combating Human Trafficking, has just finished a three-day trip to Switzerland. He praised the nation’s multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach to countering trafficking through cantonal roundtables. He also said that more needs to be done to find and help all victims of trafficking and that more needs to be done to stop it, especially when it comes to the wrong use of technology.
Richey spoke with the heads of the Swiss delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the President of the State Council of Geneva during his visit. He also hosted roundtables in both Geneva and Zurich. Richey called attention to the need for more focused actions to prevent the trafficking of women for prostitution, address the rising trend of sexual exploitation of children online, and address labour exploitation in business supply networks in anticipation of the new National Action Plan.
“Switzerland has asked many government agencies for help in fighting human trafficking, but the job is still hard. The Special Representative emphasised that priorities should be placed on providing victims with ongoing support, reducing the demand that encourages sexual and labour exploitation, and combating technology abuse. “We can use the new National Action Plan to draw attention to these challenges strategically.”
The Special Representative also cited several positive practices, such as dealing with domestic servitude in diplomatic households, increasing the financial intelligence unit’s focus on financial transactions related to trafficking, identifying trafficking victims during the asylum process, and collaborating with civil society organizations.
Richey also met with people from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the State Secretariat for Migration, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Swiss Security Network, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the “Amiable Compositeurs.” Richey talked about how technology is making it easier for people to be trafficked at a meeting in Bern about human trafficking and cybercrime. Richey also spoke with anti-trafficking NGOs that operate cantonal roundtables to support victims.
The country’s visit has allowed us to benefit from the OSCE’s expert opinion on Switzerland’s anti-human trafficking efforts, according to Gilles Roduit, Deputy Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. At the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, we are committed to supporting global diplomatic efforts at all levels to stop the trafficking of migrants, people who have been forced to leave their homes, and people who are caught in the middle of a war but aren’t fighting.
Each year, the Special Representative travels to numerous countries to support the OSCE Member States in addressing human trafficking, suggest more action, and gather best practices for combating this horrible crime.
Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
