10.06.2021

On October 19, 2021, an online webinar was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and UN-Women, focusing on "Rising trends in human trafficking and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic." A representative from the Main Department on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in the event.

Key speakers included Her Majesty Princess Eugenie, co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Collective; Siobhan Mulally, UN Special Rapporteur on human trafficking, especially women and children; Per-Anders Sunesson, Swedish Ambassador for the combating human trafficking; Kevin Hyland (OBE), UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner and GRETA member of the Council of Europe; Ruchira Gupta, founder of "Apne Aap Women Worldwide" and Emmy award-winning journalist; and Alika Kinan Sanchez, an anti-trafficking activist from Argentina.

Participants from various countries discussed critical issues such as the criminal prosecution and sentencing of human traffickers, child trafficking, and illegal migration of children, education and employment opportunities for potential trafficking victims, and the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on human trafficking dynamics.

The online meeting fostered a constructive and professional dialogue among participants.