Holy See calls for decisive, coordinated action against human trafficking at OSCE, stressing victim protection, prevention, and digital-era risks.
Newsroom (23/04/2026 Gaudium Press) At the close of the 26th OSCE Conference on Combating Human Trafficking in Vienna, the Holy See delivered a forceful appeal for decisive and coordinated international action to address what it described as one of the gravest crimes of our time.
The conference, titled “The Rise of Forced Criminality: Bridging a Security Gap,” brought renewed attention to a growing and complex dimension of human trafficking. In its message, the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe welcomed the forum while emphasizing the urgent need for states to act collectively and with determination.
Central to the Holy See’s intervention was a call to fundamentally shift how victims are perceived and treated. Too often, the delegation noted, individuals subjected to trafficking—frequently women, children, migrants, refugees, and those in extreme vulnerability—are coerced into criminal activities and subsequently treated as offenders themselves. This approach, it warned, compounds their suffering rather than addressing their need for protection, support, assistance, and justice.
“Victims must be recognized as persons in need of protection and justice,” the delegation stressed, underscoring the moral and legal imperative to avoid penalizing those whose actions are a direct consequence of exploitation.
The Holy See also drew attention to the evolving nature of trafficking, highlighting the emergence of what it described as “new forms of digital slavery.” In recent years, individuals have increasingly been lured into online networks and forced to participate in financial scams and other illicit activities. These developments, the delegation cautioned, reflect a dangerous expansion of trafficking into the digital sphere, exploiting technological vulnerabilities alongside traditional forms of coercion.
Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV, the message renewed an urgent appeal to confront and end the exploitation of those already weakened by war, displacement, and poverty. Such conditions, it noted, continue to create fertile ground for traffickers who prey on desperation and instability.
To address the crisis comprehensively, the Holy See outlined three key priorities for OSCE participating states.
First, it called for strict adherence to the principle of non-punishment, ensuring that victims are not prosecuted for crimes they were compelled to commit as a direct result of trafficking. Without such safeguards, victims risk being further marginalized and denied justice.
Second, the delegation urged a reorientation of migration and security policies toward a protection-centered approach. Evidence shows that when trafficking cases are handled primarily through the lens of migration control, victims are less likely to be identified and more likely to face detention or deportation—outcomes that undermine both human rights and effective law enforcement.
Finally, the Holy See emphasized the importance of strengthening prevention efforts and partnerships. The sharp rise in forced criminality across the OSCE region, including cyber-enabled fraud, highlights the need to address root causes such as social exclusion, youth unemployment, and digital vulnerabilities.
The message concluded with a clear warning: without coordinated and decisive action, these interconnected challenges will continue to grow, deepening human suffering and undermining regional security.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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