Counter-Trafficking

IOM works in partnership with governments, the United Nations, international and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and development partners on all aspects of counter-trafficking responses – prevention, protection, and prosecution.

Since the mid-1990s, IOM and its partners have provided protection and assistance to close to 100,000 men, women and children, who were trafficked for sexual and labour exploitation, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or for organ removal. Agriculture, fishing, domestic work and hospitality, commercial sexual exploitation, pornography, begging, construction and manufacturing are some of the sectors in which victims were exploited.

IOM takes a comprehensive approach to addressing human trafficking. Respect for human rights, the physical, mental and social well-being of the individual and his or her community, and the sustainability of our actions through institutional capacity development and partnerships are at the centre of all of IOM’s counter-trafficking efforts.

IOM encourages the entire international community to engage in the fight against trafficking. It does so by participating in, and leading, a number of regional and international multilateral processes, including the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), and Alliance 8.7. IOM also works with the humanitarian community to ensure that the risk of trafficking is mitigated and addressed from the earliest stages of humanitarian responses. 

Ongoing Projects

 

Completed Projects

• Don’t let it happen, don’t make it happen! - Counter-trafficking campaign
• Comprehensive Return and Reintegration Programme for Victims of Trafficking
• Safe and Adequate Return, Fair Treatment and Early Identification of Victims of Trafficking from Third Countries outside the EU (SAFE) (2017-2018)
• Awareness Raising Campaign on Trafficking in Human Beings (2017 - 2018)
• Piloting Comprehensive Return and Reintegration Assistance for Hungarian Victims of Trafficking (2015 - 2017)
• Swiss-Hungarian Transnational Cooperation on the Referral of Victims of Trafficking (2017)
• Foster and Improve Integration of Trafficked Persons (FIIT) (2012 - 2013)
• Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Enhancing Victims Protection through Operational Networking and Co-operation and Joint Multi-Disciplinary Trainings for Counter-Trafficking Specialists in EU Member States, Candidate and Neighbouring Countries (AGIS 2006) (2008 - 2009)
• Counter-trafficking in Minors in South-East Europe (2007 - 2008)
• National Counter-Trafficking Pilot Project (2006 - 2007)
• Operational Networking and Co-operation and Joint Multidisciplinary Training Process for Judicial, Law Enforcement, NGOs and International Organizations Specialists, in Fighting Trafficking in Human Beings (NETWORK III) (2006 - 2008)
• In-Depth Applied Research to Better Understand the Demand Side of Trafficking in Persons (AGIS 2005) (2005 - 2006)
• Strengthening of the Operational Network and Cooperation Mechanisms through Joint Multidisciplinary Training for Operational Law Enforcement Officers, NGOs and IOs in Fighting Human Trafficking into the EU Member States from EU Accession Countries and Countries Bordering the EU after Enlargement (AGIS 2005) (2006)
• CARDS: Development of Reliable and Functioning Policing Systems to Combat Main Criminal Activities and Enhance Police Cooperation (CARPO) (2004 - 2006)
• Training for Border Guards and Border Police Officials in Identifying of and Providing Assistance to Victims of Trafficking (AGIS 2004) (2005 - 2006)
• Prevention and Awareness Raising Campaign on Trafficking in BiH, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary (2005 - 2006)
• Mental Health Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings: Development of Minimum Standards of Care plus Regional Training of Trainers Workshop (2003 - 2004)
• Government and NGOs Capacity Building to Prevent and Respond to Trafficking in Persons (2003 - 2004)
• Migration Information Centre for the Prevention of Irregular Migration and the Trafficking of Human Beings (2003 - 2004)
• Non-Governmental Organizations’ Capacity Building to Prevent and Respond to Trafficking In Persons (2003 - 2004)
• Regional Conference on Public Health Concerns, Services, Assistance and Prevention with Emphasis on the Needs of Victims of Trafficking (2002 - 2003)