"The Smile of the Child" contributes to the Human Dimension Meeting of OSCE on child trafficking
Vienna, 5 June 2018
“The Smile of the Child” participated in the 1st Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 28 and 29 May in Vienna.
The event was dedicated to the serious problem of child trafficking, a priority issue under the OSCE's Italian 2018 Presidency, as part of the so-called "3rd dimension" of "soft security". “The Smile of the Child” was invited by the Presidency to contribute to discussions among OSCE member States, academia and Civil Society by sharing it rich experience in the field of the protection of children.
More specifically, Ambassador (Hon) Marc Van den Reeck, Head of International Cooperation at “The Smile of the Child” drew attention to the link of child disappearances with child trafficking, as well as the need to raise awareness and train law enforcement professionals, school communities and health personnel in order to ensure proper and immediate mobilization.
Emphasis was also put to the actions implemented by the Organization, given its role as national operation of the European Hotline for Missing Children 116 000, in order to step-up in close cooperation with all respective authorities and actors the level of prevention among students, parents and teachers.
The meeting gave to the participants the opportunity to reflect on specific factors of increased vulnerability of children, as well as remind that all children in principle are potential victims of trafficking, either due to poverty conditions that might lead to labor exploitation, begging, sexual exploitation or other forms of exploitation, stemming from neglect, intergenerational frictions, family violence or drug addiction. These factors may lead children to runaway and, thus, run a great risk of being victimized.
During the meeting the situation of migrant children was also discussed with emphasis on the issue of unaccompanied minors in need of urgent international protection. “In this regard “The Smile of the Child” shared its experience from the operation of a mixed model of alternative care for all children, while it highlighted the fact that protection and integration must be seen as converging objectives and not as different elements.