About TRM

The concept of a Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) is defined by OSCE as “the concept of a co-operative agreement for the cross-border comprehensive assistance and/or transfer of identified or potential trafficked persons, through which state actors of different countries fulfill their obligations to promote and protect the human rights of trafficked persons”.

Practically, a TRM should be an operational framework linking the different stakeholders from two or more countries involved in identification, referral, assistance, repatriation, and monitoring by defining clear roles for each stakeholder, along with procedures to follow, to ensure the protection of the victims’ human’s rights all along their reintegration path. It is thus a mechanism that links different national referral mechanisms (NRM) one with each other while ensuring that a victim-centered approach is adopted at a transnational level.

• The existence of functioning National Referral Mechanisms and National Action Plans is an essential prerequisite
• The trafficking phenomenon is complex and constantly evolving (new migratory routes, new victims profiles, new recruitment methods, etc.). There is thus a need to keep adapting the strategies and roles of involved stakeholders.
• The political will is key to find common grounds for transnational cooperation.

More information can be found in the second section of the report Enhancing the safety and sustainability of the return and reintegration of victims of trafficking drafted in the framework of the EU-funded CARE and TACT projects.