The event took place within the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the OSCE whose major priorities include prevention and combatting trafficking in human beings, strengthening the cooperation of the OSCE state-members in fighting all forms of this crime that violates human dignity, undermines human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Conference was attended by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kozhara, OSCE Secretary General Zannier, Minister for Social Policy of Ukraine Korolevska, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Dubovyk, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Giammarinaro, Special Representative on Human Trafficking for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Smith, Ambassador, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Lenarčič, Member of Parliament of Canada and Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Canada Smith, Ambassador at Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons of the U.S. State Department CdeBaca, and other leading experts and officials from across the OSCE region.

At the beginning of the Conference, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kozhara read out the address by President of Ukraine Yanukovych, who called for efficient implementation by all participating States their commitments to eliminate this type of modern slavery. Ukrainian Foreign Minister underlined the urgency for strengthening cooperation within the OSCE to address the problem of human trafficking.

The participants of the event discussed ways to update the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings adopted in 2003 and revised in 2005.

The attendees supported the need for a strong action and pointed out that every available method should be used to identify victims and prosecute offenders.

Prior to the Conference, on June 10, 2013 within the framework of Ukrainian Chairmanship in the OSCE the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine in cooperation with the American organization «Airline Ambassadors» hosted a first training for airline crews to identify potential victims of human trafficking, as well as find out the ways to respond to this offense.  The training was attended by U.S. Congressman, Co-chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and Special Representative on Human Trafficking for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Smith. In his welcome remarks at the OSCE High-Level Conference on Strengthening the OSCE Response to Trafficking in Human Beings, Mr.Smith underlined, that Ukraine, having conducted first trainings, will be in a position to enable this initiative to become one of the best practices within the OSCE region.

Mr.Smith noted that airline, hotel and transportation professionals are in a unique position to identify potential victims and to get them help they need. He stressed the need for delivering such trainings in the framework of the OSCE, and stated that they can contribute to saving hundreds and, perhaps, even thousands lives.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador at Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons of the U.S. State Department CdeBaca underlined the importance of protecting human trafficking victims, and stressed the urgency of the problem of human trafficking for inner organs removal. He also marked the importance of cooperation (partnership - 4 “P” – “prevention, prosecution, protection, partnership”) between the public sector and the private one, including on national, regional and international levels. Mr. CdeBaca encouraged the participants to pay particular attention to the problem of violence against domestic workers by foreign diplomats.