OEA - CP - Resolución CSH GT TP Doc 8

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CSH/GT/TP/doc.8/26 11 March 2026

COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY Original: Spanish Working Group on Trafficking in Persons (2024-2026)

CONCEPT NOTE

EIGHTH MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES

ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

(Presented by the Chair)

1. THE MEETING OF NATIONAL AUTHORITIES ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS The Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons is a specialized political and technical forum of the Organization of American States (OAS), held within the framework of the Committee on Hemispheric Security and the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. This forum periodically brings together the competent national authorities of the member states with the aim of strengthening hemispheric cooperation, promoting exchanges of experience, and coordinating comprehensive responses to trafficking in persons.

The main objectives of the Meeting are to promote political dialogue, facilitate exchanges of good practice, lessons learned, and emerging challenges, and contribute to the effective implementation of regional and international commitments in the areas of prevention, victim protection, criminal prosecution, and international cooperation. Recognizing that trafficking in persons is a multifaceted phenomenon, with complex transnational dynamics and, in some cases, links to transnational organized crime, addressing it requires coordinated, multidimensional, and sustainable responses among states. It also enables the formulation and adoption of recommendations aimed at strengthening public policies and national and regional regulatory frameworks. In line with the OAS Third Work Plan for a Comprehensive Response to Trafficking in Persons (2023–2028), the Meeting incorporates human rights-based approaches focused on victims and survivors, with a gender-, child-, and diversity-sensitive perspective, and promotes interagency coordination and cooperation with international and regional organizations and civil society. The Eighth Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons also provides an opportunity to address priority and emerging issues in the region, strengthen the visibility of the problem, and reaffirm the political commitment of the member states to address trafficking in persons in the Hemisphere in a coordinated and effective manner.- 2The Eighth Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons also provides an opportunity to address priority and emerging issues in the region, strengthen the visibility of the problem, and reaffirm the political commitment of the member states to address trafficking in persons in the Hemisphere in a coordinated and effective manner.- 2Previous meetings have been chaired by the United States (2024), Argentina (2021), Mexico (2018), Brazil (2014), Guatemala (2012), Argentina (2009), and Venezuela (2006).

2. OBJECTIVES The Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons has the following objectives:

1. Strengthen political dialogue and hemispheric cooperation among member states to address trafficking in persons in the areas of prevention, prosecution, assistance, protection, and reparations for victims, in line with regional and international commitments.

2. Facilitate the exchange of experiences, good practices, and lessons learned, promoting mutual learning and the identification of effective approaches to address the different modalities of trafficking in persons.

3. Analyze trends, emerging challenges, and innovative responses in the region in order to guide the design and implementation of comprehensive public policies based on human rights and focused on victims and survivors.

4. Promote interinstitutional and multisectoral coordination at the national and regional levels, strengthening coordination among competent authorities and international cooperation mechanisms.

5. Promote the implementation of the OAS Third Work Plan for a Comprehensive Response to Trafficking in Persons (2023–2028) by identifying priority actions and recommendations aimed at strengthening the capabilities of member states.

6. Encourage the informed and meaningful participation of civil society, survivors, and international and regional organizations in an ethical and safe manner in support of the efforts of member states.

7. Adopt recommendations and agreements that contribute to strengthening regulatory frameworks, public policies, and regional strategies to address trafficking in persons in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.

8. Strengthen regional responses to trafficking in persons by promoting international cooperation, criminal investigation, and coordination among competent authorities to confront the criminal structures involved, within the framework of respect for human rights and protection for victims.- 33. THE SESSIONS 3.1 FIRST PLENARY SESSION – Recruitment of minors into organized criminal groups

cooperation, criminal investigation, and coordination among competent authorities to confront the criminal structures involved, within the framework of respect for human rights and protection for victims.- 33. THE SESSIONS 3.1 FIRST PLENARY SESSION – Recruitment of minors into organized criminal groups Topics to be addressed a. Emerging trends and challenges in the recruitment of children and adolescents : presentation of a strategic overview of emerging trends and modalities in the recruitment of children and adolescents by organized criminal groups, including the evolution of those practices; the use of social media, video games, and other digital platforms for recruitment; contexts of migration, displacement, and violence; as well as differentiated impacts by age and gender, and their implications for the safety and protection of children. b. Regulatory frameworks and public policies: state responses : analysis of regulatory and public policy frameworks for the prevention, punishment, and response to the recruitment of children and adolescents by organized criminal groups, including recognition of recruitment as one of the forms or purposes of trafficking in persons, legislative adaptation to international standards, application of the principle of non-punishment, differentiated criminal responsibility, and coordination between security policies and child protection systems. c. Prevention, protection, and community resilience : exchange of experiences and best practices on prevention strategies in schools and communities, including social inclusion, education, and youth employment programs, as well as the participation of families, communities, and local authorities. Prevention and comprehensive care approaches focused on the best interests of the child will be highlighted, including early identification and referral mechanisms, communityand school-based prevention programs, reintegration processes, and psychosocial support, as well as the role of local governments and communities in the protection of children and adolescents. d. Intersection among trafficking in persons, organized crime, and other crimes : analysis of trafficking in persons for the purpose of recruiting minors for organized criminal groups and its interrelationship with other crimes, such as smuggling of migrants, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and sexual violence, as well as its implications for citizen security and regional security. 3.2 SECOND PLENARY SESSION – Labor exploitation and forced labor in the context of labor mobility Topics to be addressed a) Regional overview and current trends : presentation on the main patterns of labor

firearms trafficking, and sexual violence, as well as its implications for citizen security and regional security. 3.2 SECOND PLENARY SESSION – Labor exploitation and forced labor in the context of labor mobility Topics to be addressed a) Regional overview and current trends : presentation on the main patterns of labor exploitation and forced labor in contexts of labor mobility, with special attention to the economic sectors at greatest risk, such as agriculture, construction, services, and domestic work; the impact of humanitarian crises, conflicts, and disasters, as well as the situation of migrants; and the involvement of recruiters, recruitment agencies, intermediaries, and national and/or foreign individuals or companies engaged in recruitment.- 4b) Prevention, identification, and protection of victims: mechanisms for the early detection of victims at borders, in workplaces, and along migration routes, as well as interinstitutional coordination among labor inspectorates, migration authorities, consular support services, and justice systems. Strategies for the prevention and reduction of migrants’ vulnerability will also be examined, including the existence of binational agreements between countries related to labor migration; the strengthening of regular, safe, humane, and circular labor migration channels; the promotion of decent work and ethical and fair recruitment; interinstitutional and intersectoral coordination for a comprehensive approach to labor mobility, including state programs; and the provision of information, standards, established procedures, and guidance before, during, and after the migration process. This discussion will also address the victim’s right to repatriation, the application of the principle of nonpunishment, and effective access to protection and assistance mechanisms in the country where the person was identified and in the country of origin. c) Access to justice, accountability, and differentiated approaches : mechanisms for the investigation and prosecution of cases of labor exploitation and forced labor, including the responsibility of employers, recruiters, recruitment agencies, and intermediaries, among

others, as well as comprehensive reparation and compensation measures for victims. It will also address differentiated approaches to protection and access to justice for populations at greater risk, such as women and men, Indigenous Peoples and rural communities, and temporary and cross-border workers. 3.3 THIRD PLENARY SESSION – Dignified and transformative reparation for trafficking victims Topics to be addressed a. Integral reparation and transformative approaches : analysis, in the light of international standards, of the concept and scope of dignified, comprehensive, and transformative reparation for victims of trafficking in persons, including the distinction between assistance, compensation, and comprehensive reparation. It will also examine good practices and lessons learned from national and regional experiences, innovative models, and comprehensive approaches, as well as the impact of reparation measures as a tool to break cycles of exploitation. b. Reparations in transnational contexts : challenges and good practices relating to victim reparations in transnational contexts, including international cooperation to ensure reparations in cross-border cases, safe returns with a reintegration approach, and continuity of reparation measures, as well as the recognition and enforcement of judicial and administrative decisions in other states. c. Access to justice and reparation mechanisms with a victim-centered approach: analysis of judicial and administrative avenues for access to reparation, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition, as well as the main obstacles faced by survivors. It will address differentiated and victim-centered approaches, the ethical and meaningful participation of survivors in the design of reparation policies, and safeguards to prevent revictimization. Reparations will be examined from gender, child, and diversity perspectives, taking into account the different5forms of trafficking in persons and the migratory status of victims, in line with the principle of non-punishment. 3.4 FOURTH PLENARY SESSION – New challenges in measuring trafficking in persons: global data, and digital environments and victim experience Topics to be addressed a. Global data and regional trends in trafficking in persons : presentation of a regional overview based on internationally comparable data, including the main characteristics, patterns, and trends of trafficking in persons in the Americas. Persistent challenges in the

global data, and digital environments and victim experience Topics to be addressed a. Global data and regional trends in trafficking in persons : presentation of a regional overview based on internationally comparable data, including the main characteristics, patterns, and trends of trafficking in persons in the Americas. Persistent challenges in the generation, collection, and comparability of data among countries will be examined, including gaps between detected victims and estimates of the actual scope of the phenomenon, as well as opportunities to strengthen national information systems and improve the quality, consistency, and timeliness of official reporting. b. Statistical recording of trafficking in persons with a digital component : analysis of methodological and operational challenges in recording cases of trafficking in persons involving digital environments, including recruitment through social media, online platforms, and video games. The discussion will address criteria for the classification of cases when recruitment occurs online and exploitation occurs offline, coordination between trafficking in persons data systems and specialized cybercrime units, as well as the need to incorporate specific variables that allow for a better understanding of these modalities. c. Measuring the State’s response based on the experience of victims : exchange of experiences on the use of satisfaction surveys, perception surveys, and other instruments to understand victims’ experiences with assistance, protection, and access to justice services. Methodological and ethical approaches for the collection of information without generating revictimization will be discussed, as well as indicators to assess the quality of the institutional response. The session will also examine how these data can contribute to the design, monitoring, and improvement of victim-centered public policies.

3.5 EXCHANGE WITH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO

STRENGTHEN REGIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: In this session, the OAS will serve as a facilitator of technical exchange among states and international and regional organizations, drawing on the specialized expertise of each entity in support of the priorities defined by member states. This agenda item will include a technical exchange with international and regional organizations aimed at identifying synergies and complementarities that contribute to the implementation of the commitments and priorities defined by the member states in the areas of prevention, victim protection, criminal prosecution, and international cooperation in the fight against trafficking in persons.- 6This agenda item will include a technical exchange with international and regional organizations aimed at identifying synergies and complementarities that contribute to the implementation of the commitments and priorities defined by the member states in the areas of prevention, victim protection, criminal prosecution, and international cooperation in the fight against trafficking in persons.- 6In line with the Third Work Plan for a Comprehensive Response to Trafficking in Persons in the Western Hemisphere (2023–2028) approved by OAS member states, international organizations will be invited to share how their tools and technical capabilities can support its effective implementation. Interventions will focus on the presentation of tools, experiences, and modalities of technical cooperation that, within the framework of the respective institutional mandates, contribute to strengthening national and regional capacities. The exchange will be conducted under the guidance of the Chair, with short, focused interventions, and with space for comments and consultations by member states.

4. MEETING FORMAT  This meeting will be held at the headquarters of the Organization of American States

in Washington, D.C., on May 14 and 15, 2026 . The meeting will be held in person. However, to facilitate the participation of national authorities and member state delegations, as well as to promote dialogue on the substantive topics, a link will be provided in due course to enable their virtual participation.  Member states should limit their interventions to a maximum of 2 minutes, except during the “Round Table” session, when interventions may be extended to 3 minutes.  The use of slide presentations will not be permitted during the dialogue session among member states.  Member states are invited to focus their two-minute interventions on the specific topics of each session. General reports on policies and activities should be presented at the “Round Table” session.

5. PARTICIPATION  Member states are requested to send a note verbale accrediting their delegation to participate in person or virtually by May 8 to Magaly Rothe, Department of Conferences and Meetings Management ( MRothe@oas.org), with a copy to Jane Piazer, Department of Public Security (jpiazer@oas.org); Luciana Paiva, Department

participate in person or virtually by May 8 to Magaly Rothe, Department of Conferences and Meetings Management ( MRothe@oas.org), with a copy to Jane Piazer, Department of Public Security (jpiazer@oas.org); Luciana Paiva, Department against Transnational Organized Crime ( lpaiva@oas.org); and José Gabriel Salazar, Secretariat of the Permanent Council (jgsalazar@oas.org).

Please specify the following: National Authority:

Name: Position:

E-mail: Type of participation (in-person or virtual):

Head of delegation (Yes or No):- 7Delegation:

Name: Position:

E-mail: Type of participation (in-person or virtual): Head of delegation (Yes or No):  Member states are invited to include at least one survivor of trafficking in their delegation. The participation of survivors shall be promoted in an ethical, safe, and meaningful manner, respecting the principles of informed consent, nonrevictimization, and non-exposure to risk, as well as ensuring the necessary conditions for their well-being and protection.  Preferably, the accreditation of delegations should be completed before May 8, 2026.