La Strada International Association

La Strada International (LSI) is an international NGO network addressing trafficking in human beings in Europe. The organisation was established in October 2004 and includes members from Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, and Ukraine. In each of these eight countries the programme is implemented by independent human rights NGO's, working within the La Strada philosophy. The mission of La Strada International is to work for and with trafficked persons and at risk groups with a focus on women in a European context. LSI aims at empowering trafficked persons to access and exercise their rights and reclaim their lives. To achieve its mission LSI develops activities in three interrelated areas: Information & Lobbying; Prevention & Education; and Social Assistance to trafficked persons.

La Strada International's work is based on the overall Human Rights principle, defining trafficking in human beings as a severe violation of human rights, with a trafficked persons centred approach. Female migrants, domestic workers and sex workers must have their rights protected, and states that are accountable for the violations of human rights, including forced labour and practices akin to slavery, must face their responsibility and work to secure the rights of trafficked people and migrants in general.

La Strada International is a value-driven network with a vision of a world without trafficking in human beings where human rights are respected. In order to promote this vision La Strada International, including the member organisations, is currently working with a strategic plan that has three main goals:


 * 1) To increase awareness and influence opinion on trafficking in human beings (THB) and its root causes from a human rights perspective.
 * 2) To strengthen the network to ensure sustainability of the La Strada work.
 * 3) To provide better assistance to trafficked persons.

La Strada International is a member organization of the NGO Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women. In July 2010 LSI was granted consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The consultative status gives LSI the ability to actively participate in the work of ECOSOC, as well as other bodies within the UN, such as the UN Secretariat. La Strada International will be allowed to consult with UN member states and discuss concerns and ideas within the field of human trafficking. LSI has become an influential actor in the arena of anti-trafficking work and continues to cooperate with various organisations and EU and UN bodies. In December 2009 La Strada International, together with Anti-Slavery International launched a three-year European project called ""Comp.act"". The aim of the project is to improve access to justice and guarantee compensation for trafficked people. The project receives institutional support from the Council of Europe and OSCE / ODIHR. In 2004 La Strada received the MTV Europe Free Your Mind award.