Child Trafficking: Conference Addresses Protection, Healing and Justice 

The CBSS and its partners recently hosted a conference addressing the protection, healing, and justice for child victims of trafficking, featuring discussions on intergovernmental cooperation, child-centred procedures, and the effects of institutionalisation.

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and its partners recently hosted a conference aimed at enhancing systems for the protection, healing, and justice for child victims of trafficking.  

Held on 10 June 2024, the Child Trafficking: Justice, Healing & Protection Conference brought together key stakeholders to discuss and workshop critical issues such as intergovernmental cooperation, child-centred procedures, and the impact of institutionalisation on child trafficking. 

The conference was part of a PROMISE project, which aims to improve the justice process for child victims of trafficking by enhancing the skills and capacity of professionals involved and fostering better cooperation among authorities in the Baltic Sea Region.  

Specifically, the project has developed standards and guidelines for handling cases involving child victims, with a focus on adapting the Barnahus model to address their specific needs. 

Keynote speakers included Ms Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs; Mr Benoit van Keirsbilck, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; and Prof. Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. 

Ms Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

“To all those who worked on the PROMISE project: You did more than promise, you delivered,” said Johansson. 

“You have made a big contribution to better coordination at the EU and national level against trafficking in human beings. And above all, to rescue and support children,” she added. 

Other speakers included Ms Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of GRETA at the Council of Europe, and Dr Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking. A presentation from the CBSS Youth Child Protection Focus Group also featured prominently. 

From left: Mr Edi Mujaj Head of Unit and Senior Adviser, Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings, CBSS; Mr Benoit van Keirsbilck, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; Dr Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Human Trafficking; Mr Grzegorz Poznański, Director General, CBSS; Ms. Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of GRETA at the Council of Europe; Ms Olivia Lind Haldorsson, Head of Unit and Senior Adviser, Children at Risk, CBSS.

The conference was organised under the PROMISE TRM project, coordinated by the CBSS in partnership with Child Circle (Belgium) and co-funded by the European Union. 

  • See more images from the conference here.