The Global Initiative was invited to speak at the meeting of the EU Network of National Rapporteurs or Equivalent Mechanisms on Trafficking in Human Beings, which took place in Brussels on the 19 and 20 May 2016. The meeting was co-chaired by Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children, and Ms Myria Vassiliadou, the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator (European Commission).

In line with the Commission’s priority on following the money of this crime, there was strong focus on the role of private sector partners, and in specific, financial institutions addressing trafficking in human beings. Livia Wagner, Private Sector Advisor from the Global Initiative, elaborated on the importance of responsible supply chain management and the necessity of innovative public–private partnerships, the main pitfalls with regard to the collaboration of and how these can be tackled. Three experts from divergent financial institutions shared their views on the roles of their respective organisations and furthermore, the different roles financial institutions could or should play in tackling trafficking in human beings.

It was also discussed that the example of the European Bankers Alliance, an alliance by Europol and representatives from some of the world’s leading financial institutions, contributes enormously to counter the criminal business behind Trafficking in Human Beings, by developing ‘red-flag’ financial indicators to identify possible criminal activities, which can be brought to the attention of the police.