Joint CBSS Meeting in Warsaw Addresses Human Trafficking Amid Crises

The CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) and the CBSS Expert Group on Children at Risk met in Warsaw on 9–10 October 2025 for a joint seminar aimed at strengthening prevention and response mechanisms to human trafficking amid regional crises.

On the first day, hosted by the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration, participants discussed policy responses and strategic planning. Katarzyna Barcikowska (Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chair of the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials), Agata Furgała (Director, Department for Public Order, Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration), Gustav Lindström (Director General, CBSS Secretariat), and Edi Mujaj (Head of the CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings) opened the meeting.

Sessions examined how armed conflicts and border crises exacerbate trafficking risks, the difficulties countries face in meeting international obligations, and the importance of coordinated action across government agencies. One key theme was forced labour, addressed as an underreported form of trafficking that demands close cooperation between prosecutors, police, border guards, and labour inspectors.

In the afternoon, discussions turned to victim-centred approaches, with a particular focus on children and youth affected by war. Representatives from UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM and SOS Children’s Villages shared practical examples and best practices for protection and rehabilitation.

The second day took participants to Łódź for a study visit that offered field perspectives on child protection. They visited local facilities supporting Ukrainian refugees, meeting caregivers and NGOs to exchange insights on trauma-informed care and integration in foster environments.