New Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings Terms of Reference and Strategic Plan 2021-2025

The CBSS Committee of Senior Officials have adopted new Terms of Reference (ToR) and the Strategic Plan of the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings for 2021-2025.

The new Terms of Reference and the Strategic Plan built upon previously implemented projects, achieved results and lessons learned during the previous mandate period to ensure effectiveness, larger impact and sustainability of the Task Force work.  The Strategic Plan is meant to be a guiding instrument for the CBSS Member States in their work against human trafficking.

Overview

The vision of the Task Force is that trafficking in human beings is not tolerated in the Baltic Sea Region. Society is aware of the risk factors and vulnerabilities that facilitate human trafficking, perpetrators are vigorously pursued and prosecuted and victims of all forms of human trafficking are adequately assisted.

The Member States want to see the Task Force solidified as an information and resource centre for policy makers and operative staff in the Baltic Sea region.

The overall objective of the Task Force remains unchanged: to strengthen, build upon and improve current anti-trafficking policies, preventive and protective efforts in the Baltic Sea Region through a coherent and multi-disciplinary approach.

Strategic Objectives

The Task Force will support the Member States in curbing trafficking in human beings, directed by the four cross-cutting strategic objectives:

  1. Maintaining a regional information and resource centre.
  2. Enhancing policy coherence on anti-trafficking in the context of migration.
  3. Strengthening international cooperation and strategic partnerships.
  4. Providing technical assistance on migration management and anti-trafficking.  

Nine thematic priorities are selected based on identified needs and common gaps in counter- trafficking work in the Member States and aim to serve as a framework and direction for developing an operation work-plan and specific projects:

  • Addressing trafficking for labour exploitation, particularly exploitation in supply chains
  • Focusing on public procurement to prevent trafficking and forced labour
  • Strengthening efforts to address trafficking for sexual exploitation
  • Improving victim protection and empowerment
  • Strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement to combat human trafficking and prevention of re-trafficking
  • Emphasizing the gender dimension of human trafficking
  • Enhancing inter-regional and third country collaboration
  • Addressing human trafficking in a wider migration and soft security context
  • Discouraging demand that fosters all forms of human trafficking