Thank you Madame Moderator. And thank you to the panellists for their insightful presentations.
The United Kingdom believes that international coordination is critical to tackling trafficking in human beings. Conflict, humanitarian crises, irregular migration, and the devastating impacts of climate change are all contributing to growing numbers of people in modern slavery and subject to human trafficking, with women and children particularly at risk.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has precipitated the largest forced displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War.
Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons continue to face a heightened risk of trafficking.
To better inform the response, the UK has supported analysis by a regional Observatory on Organized Crime. The Observatory’s report on ‘The vulnerable millions’ provided valuable insight into the organised crime patterns, drivers, and risks in Ukraine’s mass displacement.
Building on this, the UK supports the OSCE, governments and civil society organisations with work to protect the most vulnerable from the risks of modern slavery and trafficking.
We have, for example, supported adaptation of awareness materials on the risk of human trafficking into Ukrainian, as well as the development of apps to support and track refugees vulnerable to exploitation on their relocation journeys.
We especially welcome the work of the Special Representative for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings and her Office, as well as the efforts of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, to support states in the region to increase prevention efforts and protection of Ukrainian refugees.
Last year, the UK was also pleased to participate in a workshop delivered by the Special Representative’s Office on reducing trafficking risks for Ukrainian refugees in the UK. The Office shared positive practices and tools to prevent the trafficking of refugees vulnerable to exploitation, and provided relevant UK agencies with recommendations on tailoring responses to reduce those risks.
Finally, the UK continues to strengthen our relationships with partner governments in the region through bilateral agreements – including the Joint Action Plan we have agreed with Romania. This aims to reduce the number of Romanian nationals trafficked and exploited in the UK, as well as to strengthen national responses.
Across the OSCE region, we must do more both for those forced to flee anew, and for the longer-term displaced. Stopping trafficking before it happens, protecting and assisting victims, and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Beyond the statistics are countless individual stories of tragedy and hardship. Let us continue to work together to end this heinous crime. Thank you Madame Moderator.
