This is the fourth Annual Report of the OSCE Special Representative and the third report of the current Special Representative.2 In addition to providing a report on the Office of the Special Representative’s efforts to combat trafficking in human beings over the period January-November 2009, it provides an overview of the activities, achievements and challenges of the Special Representative’s entire three-year term in office. The report outlines the mandate of the Special Representative and her role in combating trafficking in human beings. It then sets out the agenda that has guided the SR’s work from 2007-2009, building upon the Platform for Action described in the 2007 Annual Report. This platform is based upon six thematic priority areas:
1. Encouraging action at the national level and establishing national anti-trafficking structures;
2. Promoting evidence-based policies and programmes;
3. Stepping up efforts to prevent trafficking in human beings;
4. Prioritizing action against child trafficking;
5. Addressing all forms of trafficking in human beings;
6. Promoting effective assistance and access to justice for all victims.
This report explores each of these priorities in detail and explains how the SR has addressed them over her three-year mandate. The report also highlights the strong focus that the Special Representative has placed upon ensuring that a human rights-based and gender-sensitive approach is taken to combating trafficking.