ODIHR and UN Women Key Findings: Human Trafficking Trends and Consequences of COVID-19

ODIHR and UN Women will jointly present the key findings of the global survey of survivors of trafficking. The results were instrumental in developing the policy recommendations report on "Addressing Emerging Human Trafficking Trends and Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic".

This report provides guidance to governments in ensuring the implementation of a human rights-based, gender-sensitive, trauma-informed and victim-centred approach to human trafficking during and post COVID-19.

Format and speakers

The 60-minute event will be structured as follows:

• Welcome remarks and introduction by ODIHR Director and UN Women 
• Presentation of key findings 
• Panel presentations
• Q&A

Welcoming remarks will come from Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, First Deputy Director of ODIHR, and Kalliope Mingeirou, Chief of the Ending Violence against Women Section of UN Women.

Alethia Jimenez of UN Women, Policy Specialist of the Ending Violence Against Women Section, will be the moderator of the event.

Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Trafficking Issues, will present the key findings.

The list of speakers:

• Congressman Christopher H. Smith, OSCE PA Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues (tbc)
• Ambassador Per-Anders Sunesson, Swedish Ambassador at Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons
• Dalia Leinarte, Chair of CEDAW Committee for General Recommendations on Trafficking of Women and Girls in the Context of Global Migration
• Kevin Hyland, former First United Kingdom Anti-Slavery Commissioner and Member of Council of Europe GRETA
• Shandra Woworuntu, Founder & Vice President of Mentari and survivor leader     

Registration

Those interested to follow online can register using the link below:

https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L74ztCD4R2Kgvtd3aF_W_A

Human trafficking during COVID-19

Trafficking in human beings (THB) in the COVID-19 context is highly gender and age-specific and further compounded by already existing gender inequality issues.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, women and girls constituted the majority of detected victims of THB and it is likely that this trend will continue during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, especially impacting marginalized communities.

The increase of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic is a well-documented THB push factor. Additionally, the pandemic highlights that the dynamics of trafficking for sexual exploitation, impacting mostly women and children, are currently shifting from the more traditional formats of exploitation to various forms of trafficking online, including webcam and pornography production. 

The COVID-19 pandemic particularly affected the vulnerability of children to trafficking in human beings, especially online. Law enforcement agencies reported increased grooming and exploitation of children through the Internet, as well as an exponential growth of child sexual exploitation material shared online.

The emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic presented, in many countries, a number of increased risks for victims of trafficking (VoTs), including intensification of control, violence and isolation by their exploiters, and an increased lack of access to assistance. 

In order to evaluate and develop appropriate responses based on empirical, ODIHR and UN Women had launched a survey of frontline anti-trafficking stakeholders and survivors of trafficking. The survey results have been utilized in coordination with a high-level panel of experts to inform the development of policy recommendations on addressing the impact of emerging human trafficking trends and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic

ODIHR’s role

ODIHR has been active in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings (THB) in the OSCE region since 1999, focusing on the promotion of international human rights standards and gender sensitive measures in responses to trafficking. As a result of its work, ODIHR has developed expertise and a significant role in the domain of victim protection and the promotion of the rights of trafficked persons and groups who are at risk.

In particular, ODIHR has assisted the participating states in the creation of National Referral Mechanisms (NRMs), drawing on guidance provided in ODIHR’s National Referral Mechanisms Handbook. ODIHR also paved the way in promoting trafficked persons’ access to justice and effective remedies, including compensation.

ODIHR’s NRM model has been promoted and implemented in many countries around the globe and has resulted in the creation of national frameworks, which aim to ensure that there is a human rights compliant mechanism in place for victims of trafficking - from identification to reintegration.

UN Women’s role

As the lead UN agency for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women works to ensure that anti-trafficking policies and initiatives adequately address the gender dimensions of human trafficking. UN Women is the entity leading the drafting of the Secretary General’s report on Trafficking in Women and Girls, which provides an analysis of trends, good practices, gaps and challenges as well as recommendations to member states and other stakeholders.

At the country level, UN Women works on building the capacities of national authorities and service providers to adequately address and respond to trafficking in women and girls, ensuring the development of gender responsive laws and policies, improving and disseminating knowledge on the gender dimensions of trafficking in persons, and providing opportunities for reintegration and economic development of women survivors of trafficking. Since 2019, UN Women has been the Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) with OSCE.