The United Nations invited more than 20 human trafficking experts from around the globe gathered in Vienna, Austria, on Nov. 10-11, 2016, to participate in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Expert Group Meeting. Institute Founding Director John Richmond was one of the participants. Experts in attendance represented Armenia, Australia, Djibouti, France, Israel, Mali, Niger, Romania, Senegal, Singapore, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom and United States.

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the international legal definition of trafficking in persons and provide guidance. The group dealt with guiding principles from three previously published Issue Papers on “Abuse of a Position of Vulnerability” (2012), Consent (2014), and Exploitation (2015), which laid the foundation for how nations understand and apply the Trafficking in Persons Protocol.

The goal of the Expert Group Meeting emphasized developing practical guidance to investigators, prosecutors, and victim service professionals. The Human Trafficking Institute is looking forward to continuing its work on UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol and innovative ways to stop traffickers and free victims.