A/HRC/14/32 26. Finally, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, a consultative mechanism launched in 2002 by the Ministers of over 50 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, works on practical anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling measures in the region, through the following key approaches: promotion of cross-agency responses; developing model legislation to address human trafficking; training of law enforcement officers on the provision of protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, particularly women and children; enhancing operational techniques relating to child sex tourism. 4. Europe and Central Asia 27. Since the late 1980s, the CoE has raised awareness and encouraged action in the field of human trafficking in a number of recommendations. In 2005, it went further by adopting a legally binding instrument, the CoE Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CoE Convention), which entered into force in 2008. While other international instruments already existed in the field, the CoE Convention is the only comprehensive treaty focusing on the protection of victims of trafficking. The Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE is also involved in the fight against trafficking, through its Subcommittee on Trafficking in Human Beings. Besides the adoption of various resolutions, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted a Handbook for Parliamentarians on the CoE Convention. 28. The work of the EU on anti-trafficking has become an important part of its agenda in the last 10 years, notably with the adoption in 2002 of the Framework Decision on combating trafficking in human beings (which is currently being revised) and the 2004 Directive on the residence permit issued to Non-EU member country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings and who cooperate with the competent authorities (Council Directive 2004/81/EC). An Expert Group on Trafficking in Human Beings was established in 2003, and the action plan on strengthening the EU external dimension on action against trafficking in human beings was adopted in 2009. Amongst the main tasks of the EU are the development of policies and legislation, the provision of financial and political support for anti-trafficking projects and the provision of guidelines and technical assistance at the national level. 29. OSCE has addressed trafficking in persons as a major concern since 2000, when the first Ministerial Council Decision on enhancing the OSCE’s Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings was taken. In 2003, the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings was adopted, and in 2006 the Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was appointed. In 2007, a Platform for Action against Human Trafficking was adopted, which focuses on six priority areas: encouraging action at national level and establishing national anti-trafficking structures; promoting evidence-based policies and programmes; stepping up efforts to prevent trafficking in human beings; prioritizing action against child trafficking; addressing all forms of trafficking in human beings; promoting effective assistance and access to justice for all victims. 30. Finally, the Nordic Council, a political organization composed of parliamentarians from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, has adopted various recommendations on prevention, assistance to victims, trafficking for sexual exploitation and trafficking for labour exploitation, which have been implemented by the Nordic Council of Ministers. 31. In Central Asia, in 2005, CIS member States adopted the Agreement on the Cooperation of the CIS member States in Combating Trafficking in Persons, Human Organs and Tissues, followed by the adoption in 2006 of the Decision on the Programme of Cooperation of the CIS member States in Combating Trafficking in Persons for 2007–2010. GE.10-13211 7

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