09.04.2025

On March 31 and April 1, the 25th Conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alliance against Trafficking in Persons was held in Vienna, Austria.
The conference, chaired by OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey, brought together representatives from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.
Keynote speeches were delivered by the OSCE Secretary General, the Minister of Justice of Finland, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children. Experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as representatives from the United Kingdom, Slovakia, and Australia, delivered presentations.
Held under the theme "Protecting Childhoods, Shaping Futures: A Call to End Child Trafficking", the conference was attended by head of division S. Garayev from the Main Department on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In his speech, he provided a detailed overview of the national strategy concerning children, including the corresponding national action plan, the special procedures for criminal prosecution, and the protection and assistance mechanisms available to children who are victims of sexual exploitation and sexual violence. He also highlighted the cooperation between relevant state institutions and non-governmental organizations in this field. Furthermore, he emphasized that the efforts undertaken by our country have been highly commended by international organizations operating in this area. Finally, he affirmed the Government’s firm commitment to combating sexual exploitation and sexual violence against children.