Trafficking of Human Beings Is a Social Justice Issue

Trafficking in Human Beings is not a faded, historical memory: it is a

social issue in today’s Albania, and it bears the seeds of a potential

threat to security. RS, a 20-year-old woman from Tirana, gave birth

in prison, following an arrest for theft. RS first reached authorities’

attention as a serial thief at 16. However, her story is not simply one of juvenile

crime. RS’s parents abandoned her at a young age.

When she was a teenager living with her grandparents, she was sexually

exploited. After authorities identified the case of tracking, she was moved to

a shelter, but eventually returned to her grandparents’, where the sexual

exploitation continued. She currently remains in prison for theft. RS’s story is

just one of the many complex human tracking cases in Albania, covered by a

recent study conducted by my oce, the OSCE Presence in Albania. Human

tracking – the process of entrapping people through the use of force,

violence, deception, or coercion and exploiting them for financial or personal

gain – can occur at all times and anywhere.

presumed and formally identified victims of tracking, the majority of whom

are children. The UNODC estimates about 50,000 tracking victims globally

in 2018, the latest reliable, available data. Yet, tracking of human beings

(THB) is notoriously under reported and the number of victims is likely far

greater. This global phenomenon is fuelled by social and economic inequality,

poverty, unemployment, violence and conflict, and facilitated by technology. It

deserves high attention by the international community and national

authorities in Albania. Who are tracked persons today?

Anyone can become a victim of tracking, though persons living in unsafe

and insecure circumstances are more prone to become targets, and more

likely to be dependent on and therefore continuously exploited by their

trackers. Vast research on THB tells us that often these individuals’ dreams

for better lives may end in debt, poor working conditions, or in tracking,

exploitation and violence.

They become victims twice when they are hired by organised crime

organisations. The problem is even more intricate in the case of children,

especially those forced to beg, or commit petty crimes by their parents. In the

Presence’s research, 45 cases of tracked children or potential child victims of

tracking were documented, such as EXH, a 15-year-old with mental

disorders, who has been begging, selling drugs, stealing, and occasionally

working to support his disabled father since he was 11.

After he escaped state care, a child protection worker has continuously

monitored his case. 2 What cases like EXH’s show is that THB is not simply

addressed by a victim’s removal from exploitation, but requires long-term

economic and social solutions for families and children, including

employment, housing, and education. This begins with strong and well-resourced social support systems that prevent tracking and exploitation

from happening and nourish a protective environment for the most

vulnerable. The Presence in Albania remains committed to helping coordinate

a victim-centred, multi stakeholder to eradicate all forms of THB, grounded in

the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to address this heinous crime. Our

commitment is driven by the knowledge that tracking poses a threat to

national and regional security because of the criminal activity involved.

Global research stresses that trackers are often involved in corruption, drug

tracking, migrants’ smuggling, money laundering, and other forms of

organised crime, with THB prots owing into formal and criminal economies

at the cost of rule of law, democratic values, economic security, investment

and sustainable development. In line with its mandate and the Albanian

Government’s priorities, the Presence provides expertise to improve policies,

upgrade skills, and strengthen coordination mechanisms across social,

enforcement, and judicial institutions and organisations. We contributed to

the adoption of a National Action Plan to protect children from economic

exploitation and local-level plans for identifying and assisting children in

these situations. Adopted guidance for safeguarding child victims’ interests in

criminal proceedings; enhanced data collection mechanisms; and multi-agency coordination meetings are further helping to identify and manage

cases.

My recent meetings with institutions, police, shelters and NGOs solidified the

need for cooperation at all levels. “Different and Equal”, “Vatra” and “Caritas”,

which bring laudable experience on the ground in preventing tracking and

assisting victims, stressed the importance of sustainable social assistance

programmes for victims’ reintegration, without which they may be driven

justice to victims, and help identify perpetrators by tracing their assets.

Victims should not be treated as perpetrators for crimes committed due to

their tracking situation.

Their proper identification as victims would lead to the protection of their

human rights and contribute to successful prosecution of trackers.

Confiscated funds could be used to help tracking victims, to support shelters

and NGOs in victim rehabilitation, who can initiate a new life. In the case of

children, proactive involvement of social workers and law-enforcement to

reduce the occurrence of abuse would mitigate children’s risk to be tracked.

We will continue to support Albanian institutions, also at local level, to

strengthen the child protection system. As trackers develop new

recruitment methods, on and offline, and sophisticated means to control their

victims, specialised training for law-enforcement and justice officials is

paramount. The Presence is developing training for police and magistrates

that addresses new forms of tracking and encourages a human rights, child oriented and gender sensitive approach to combating it. And with the OSCE

Oce of the Special Representative and 3 Coordinator for Combating THB,

we will deliver a unique simulation-based online training for the rst time in

the region.

Finally, the role of a dedicated national anti-tracking coordinator remains

crucial, with a clear mandate and adequate resources to lead coordination of

the various dimensions of anti trafficking efforts

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