Press Release: CBSS Organises an International Conference on Trafficking in the Digital Era

With most activities moving online, criminal activity is no exception. The Council of the Baltic Sea States’ Expert Group on Children at Risk and Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings have joined forces to deliver an all-day conference on the topic of trafficking in the digital era under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the CBSS on 6 May 2021. 

Over 200 registered attendees will participate in a full day of expert talks that will explore recent developments in child trafficking and how technology facilitates it, who the victims are, what kind of impact trafficking has on children who fall victims to it and how to best mitigate it, as well as insights into identification, investigation, safe paths to recovery and justice for the victims. 

Agnė Bilotaitė, Lithuanian Minister of Interior and one of the speakers at the conference has remarked that “In the context of the recent pandemic, the digital space has become one of the main means of communication for children. It connects children to the world they were previously accustomed to: friends, teachers, entertainment. Unfortunately, they are also exposed to various threats in the digital space. The conference “Trafficking in the digital Era“ is a response of the Baltic Sea Region to the growing issue of online exploitation of children and traps of human trafficking.” 

Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home affairs says ahead of the meeting that “Trafficking of human beings is one of the worst kind of organized crime. Nearly a quarter of the victims are children, most of them girls. More cross border cooperation and exchange of information is needed. I also want to look at criminalizing the use of exploited services from victims of trafficking” 

In an ongoing CBSS effort to involve young people in all aspects of decision-making and problem-solving in the Baltic Sea Region, the conference will feature a youth panel alongside the experts, who will share their perspectives throughout the day. The youth panel was also involved in the preparation of the conference and will be included in the follow-up. 

Other speakers include Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, Cathal Delaney, Head of Team Analysis Project Twins at Europol and a series of experienced researchers and practitioners. Full programme

When6 May 2021, 09:45 – 16:30 CET 

Where: Zoom 

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuduuqqT0oEtfcxOqvtvWyBr3rKnFLMYC5  

Follow online: #OnlineTrafficking 

Press Contact: 

Paulina Ek 
Media & Communication Team Leader 
[email protected] 
+46 70 176 40 12