UK urges stronger cross-border anti-trafficking action at OSCE

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UK urges OSCE anti-trafficking

Highlights

UK urges OSCE to strengthen international cooperation on human trafficking due to links with cybercrime, financial crime, and increased vulnerability from global crises.
UK backs OSCE efforts targeting forced criminality and advocates early victim identification, use of the non-punishment principle, and integration of digital and financial investigations.
UK warns OSCE Office faces significant financial and staffing constraints, stressing the need for adequate resources to support anti-trafficking mandates and partnerships with agencies like INTERPOL and UNODC.

UK priorities for OSCE anti-trafficking work

According to UK Government, as stated in a UK government statement to the OSCE Permanent Council, Deputy Ambassador James Ford says trafficking in human beings sustains organised crime, generates illicit profits and exploits vulnerability across borders. He says the convergence of trafficking with cybercrime, financial crime and drug trafficking makes international co-operation more important, particularly as conflict, climate change and humanitarian crises increase risks for children and other vulnerable groups.

The UK welcomes the OSCE Office’s focus on forced criminality, including trafficking into cyber-scam operations. It says victims are often first identified by authorities as suspected offenders, making early identification, access to support and consistent use of the non-punishment principle essential.

Ford says investigations should focus on the people who organise, control and profit from exploitation rather than on those coerced into criminal activity. The UK also backs closer links between digital and financial investigations, arguing that online platforms, deceptive recruitment methods and virtual assets can both facilitate trafficking and provide evidence to identify victims, trace illicit proceeds and disrupt criminal networks.

Pressure for resources and wider international co-operation

The UK says it remains committed to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking in all forms through work with international partners. That includes efforts to combat trafficking and forced labour linked to scam centres, protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable, including through targeted sanctions.

It also highlights support for projects in Southeast Asia aimed at raising awareness, strengthening victim support and reintegration, and building law-enforcement capacity. The statement also points to practical co-operation with INTERPOL, UNODC, ODIHR, civil society and the private sector as part of a broader response.

The UK says the OSCE Office is operating under serious financial and staffing constraints and argues that a focused and effective OSCE needs institutions with sufficient resources to fulfil their mandates. It thanks Special Representative Kari Johnstone and her team for their leadership and continued emphasis on survivor-informed, victim-centred responses.

In our earlier article on the Bank of England’s push for “bare metal” recovery planning, we outlined how UK regulators are urging major banks to build deeper cyber resilience as AI increases the scale and complexity of attacks. The piece highlighted calls for independent recovery options to keep critical services running even if core systems are compromised, reflecting wider concerns about systemic disruption from cyber threats.

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