By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas

Dr. Kari Johnstone took up her position serving as OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Human Trafficking on 30 October, 2023.

She will be representing the OSCE at the political level on trafficking issues, co-ordinating the organization’s efforts to combat human trafficking in the OSCE region. Dr. Johnstone will lead efforts to support OSCE participating States in strengthening their anti-trafficking strategies, operational frameworks and actions.

“I am thrilled and humbled to join the OSCE to coordinate its efforts in the fight against trafficking in human beings, assist participating States to prevent and combat trafficking and protect victims, elevate survivor voices, and build on the great leadership of former Special Representative Valiant Richey and Acting Co-ordinator Andrea Salvoni,” Dr. Johnstone said on her first day.

In her most recent roles prior to joining the OSCE, Dr. Johnstone worked as Senior Official, Acting Director, and Principal Deputy Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) in the US Department of State for a period of nine years between 2014-2023. Here, she gained extensive experience advising senior officials on policy and programming approaches to fight human trafficking globally, protect victims, and oversaw the production of the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Previously, Dr. Johnstone served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia and International Religious Freedom in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) from 2013-2014, and as Director for Russia and Central Asia at the National Security Staff of the White House in 2012.