OSCE Special Representative visits Norway, calls for new anti-trafficking strategy and improved coordination of victim assistance

OSLO, 8 September 2022 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, concluded his four-day visit to Norway today. He highlighted the country’s progress made in establishing specialized institutions to protect child victims of crime and noted a need for update of the anti-trafficking strategy and improved national co-ordination of victim assistance. 

During his visit, Richey met with members of the Norwegian parliament, and high-level anti-trafficking stakeholders, including government officials from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, law-enforcement agencies and prosecution, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Children and Families, Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Court of Appeal. Richey also consulted with anti-trafficking NGOs providing victim assistance, visited the Oslo Children’s House and a drop-in centre for persons in prostitution, and concluded the visit with a final briefing to the inter-ministerial group overseeing anti-trafficking activities in Norway.

Richey highlighted the need for increased political will to combat trafficking in human beings, including updating the country’s anti-trafficking action plan, improving coordination and prevention efforts, and boosting identification of victims of human trafficking, particularly children.

“There is solid work on the ground in Norway, but it needs to be backed with a national strategy that reflects current challenges like the misuse of the internet to exploit women and children,” the Special Representative stressed. “Mapping of risk areas and proactive identification and outreach, including on online platforms are crucial components to identify and help victims.”

The Special Representative also noted numerous good practices including adjudication of ground-breaking trafficking cases, identification of trafficking victims during asylum procedures, tracing illicit financial flows to identify exploitation and the newly adopted Transparency Act that obligates companies to ensure human rights standards. He also commended the measures taken to mitigate the risks of exploitation of refugees from Ukraine and urged continued attention as the war persists.

The Special Representative conducts multiple country visits each year to help increase the capacity of OSCE participating States to address human trafficking, share recommendations for further action, and collect best practices for fighting this heinous crime. A report detailing the findings of his visit will be released during the first quarter of 2023.