OSCE fosters co-operation among Baltic States, Moldova and Ukraine in combating abuse of new technologies for human trafficking, sexual exploitation
Senior prosecutors and law enforcement representatives specialized in anti-human trafficking and cybercrimes from Belarus, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States completed a two-day workshop on 31 July 2019 in Minsk on effective investigative techniques to combat human trafficking for sexual exploitation that is facilitated by new technologies.
The regional workshop was organized by the OSCE Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus on the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Participants shared best practices in combating ICT-facilitated human trafficking for sexual exploitation by applying special investigative techniques, and in conducting proactive investigations of online grooming, recruitment, control and exploitation of victims.
“Trafficking in human beings is hugely influenced by modern technologies as they enable criminals to significantly cut costs and increase both the scope and the effectiveness of their operations. Most victims today have never seen their traffickers,” said Oleg Kravchenko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus in his opening remarks.
Among the solutions discussed were policies that limit the capacities of perpetrators to misuse ICT, promoting the development of technical tools to support the efforts of law enforcement agencies, using undercover operations to adapt to the methods deployed by the traffickers, partnering with the private sector, investing in capacity-building and expertise, and strengthening international co-operation.
“OSCE experts, in co-operation with other partner organizations, are ready to assist national experts in tackling new challenges and threats by facilitating the training of personnel and strengthening the capacities of OSCE participating States,” said Rasa Ostrauskaite, the OSCE Secretariat’s Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats.
Valiant Richey, OSCE Acting Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings encouraged participants to use technology as a force multiplier in their efforts to end human trafficking.
“Despite its frequent misuse, technology can be an important asset for those involved in combating trafficking in persons,” he said. “Government authorities, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and private sector companies have at their disposal a wide range of technological tools that can be used to support their anti-trafficking efforts”.