VSE’s Project Manager Antonio De Martin spoke at the UNODC regional Conference “Improving response to trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, especially women and girls, through addressing demand in South-Eastern Europe” held in Dubrovnik, Republic of Croatia, from 11-12 May 2022.
The event brought together countries/territories of origin, transit and destination from the broader region of South- Eastern Europe (SEE) and the OSCE to analyse the current challenges in addressing the demand that fosters trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation in SEE.
The aim of the conference was to advance countries/territories responses to the demand that fosters trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation (TIP for sexual exploitation). The conference served to discuss the international obligations, conceptual approaches and policy responses to demand that fosters TIP for sexual exploitation, and to exchange challenges and good practices in addressing it. Finally, the conference resulted in a set of concrete actions for future engagement at the national, sub-regional and regional levels, including with international organisations, to tackle the demand that fosters TIP for sexual exploitation.
Antonio’s intervention was entitled ‘Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation: measures to support victims and tackle the crime’. The presentation aimed at showing how working with and for (potential) victims of TIP for sexual exploitation can effectively contribute to prevent and tackle this crime, in addition to ensuring support.