Child Trafficking and Child Protection: Ensuring Sustainable Solutions in the Child’s Best Interests

The Public Health Foundation of Georgia, as a member of ECPAT International network, together with other 30 ECPAT network members, had the opportunity to participate in the roundtable meeting held on May 17, 2019 in Vienna, Austria. The roundtable discussion was co-organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for combating trafficking in Human Beings (OSR/CTHB).

The role of civil society in combating human trafficking and how civil society organizations can advocate for better protection of child victims of human trafficking was the focus of a round-table discussion.

Participants agreed that child trafficking and child protection should not and cannot be considered separately – child trafficking will not be adequately addressed without functional and effective protection systems in place. Child protection systems should always be based on child-friendly and trust-building approaches and procedures. They should entail child participation and promote individual case management, avoiding re-traumatization. Children should also be consulted in decisions taken.

It is expected that the findings of this round table will bring greater clarity on the extent of the commitments related to child protection made by participating States and will also assist the OSR/CTHB in identifying further practical interventions which would facilitate the implementation of sustainable solutions for trafficked children within child protection frameworks in the OSCE region.