OSCE’s 18th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference- April 2018- ‘’Everyone has a Role: How to Make a Difference Together’’ emphasises value of partnerships with non-traditional actors including Religious organisations, in the fight against human trafficking.

 
Delegates attending the Conference were urged to cooperate and collaborate as effectively as possible in a co-ordinated effort to address new and emerging trends in Human Trafficking.  Recent years have seen increased child trafficking, trafficking for forced criminality and human trafficking along migration routes.   
The conference theme Everyone has a Role: How to make a Difference Together focused on promoting the importance of inclusive partnerships, including with non-traditional actors such as medical practitioners, teachers, financial investigators, businesses, municipalities, the media and religious organizations, whose engagement could bring added value to the anti-trafficking response.
Many successful multi-disciplinary and multi-agency programmes at local and national levels were highlighted at this year’s conference.
Speakers at the conference agreed that an inclusive approach is critical to address complex transnational trafficking rings. Some of the expert debates focused on how the travel industry could be better engaged in preventing trafficking in human beings; the critical need to involve civil society in broad anti-trafficking partnerships; the specific needs of unaccompanied foreign minors, along with best practices which exist to ensure their protection and successful rehabilitation; the value of the media and the challenges faced by journalists in shedding light on trafficking. 
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.