La Strada International Association
A European network of human-rights organisations working to prevent trafficking in persons and protect the rights of trafficked people.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
La Strada International Association, commonly known as La Strada International or LSI, is a European non-governmental organisation network focused on combating trafficking in persons and advancing the rights of people affected by trafficking. It links independent human-rights organisations operating in several European countries and provides a shared platform for research, advocacy, organisational development, information exchange and cooperation with governmental and intergovernmental institutions. The association was formally established in October 2004, building on an informal La Strada network that had existed since 1995. Rather than functioning as a conventional company with centrally owned national branches, La Strada International has worked through independent member organisations. The network has included organisations from Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine, with an International Secretariat based in Amsterdam. National members implement programmes in their own jurisdictions, while the international structure supports coordination and cross-border advocacy. A central part of LSI's work is the collection and dissemination of information about trafficking. Its International Secretariat has pursued research, supported the development of databases for national-level information on individual cases and trafficking patterns, and helped communicate evidence and policy concerns to international organisations. The network's approach combines victim support and human-rights advocacy with efforts to improve public policy, institutional capacity and access to justice. La Strada organisations have also operated practical assistance and awareness initiatives. In 2002, before the international association was formally created, La Strada Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights launched a free national telephone hotline in Ukraine. The service provided support to people affected by trafficking and advice to individuals planning international travel who wanted information about trafficking risks. LSI has developed a substantial institutional presence within European and international anti-trafficking policy networks. In July 2010 it received consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, enabling it to participate in relevant UN processes and engage with member states. It has also participated in the OSCE Alliance Expert Coordination Team, the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency Platform and the Council of Europe framework. In addition, it has been associated with NGO networks including the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, PICUM and the Human Rights and Democracy Network. From 2009 to 2012, La Strada International and Anti-Slavery International implemented Comp.act, a three-year European project concerned with access to justice and compensation for trafficked people. The project received institutional support from the Council of Europe and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. In 2013, LSI began coordinating the La Strada NGO Platform, described as a network of 21 European NGOs from 20 countries working across trafficking, migration, labour rights and sex-work-related issues. The organisation's identity is therefore best understood as a transnational civil-society network rather than a commercial product brand. Its principal offerings are research, advocacy, coalition-building, capacity development, policy participation and support for member organisations. Its work addresses trafficking in persons in the context of human rights, migration, labour exploitation and access to remedies.
History
La Strada International developed from a transnational anti-trafficking network established in 1995. The original network brought together independent human-rights organisations working in different European countries, allowing national programmes to exchange information and coordinate responses to trafficking in persons. This federated model remained important after the network was formalised as La Strada International Association in October 2004. The association was created to provide an international structure for cooperation while leaving programme implementation to independent organisations in each participating country. By 2013, the network included members in Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine. Its International Secretariat was based in Amsterdam and served as a coordinating and advocacy centre rather than as a conventional corporate headquarters controlling national subsidiaries. The network's work has combined direct and practical anti-trafficking activity with research and policy advocacy. The International Secretariat has focused on gathering information, supporting research and developing systems for organising national-level data about individual cases and broader trafficking patterns. It has also worked to strengthen the capacity of member organisations and to communicate civil-society concerns to international institutions. A notable example of La Strada's practical work predates the association's formal creation. In 2002, La Strada Ukraine and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights established a free telephone hotline in Ukraine. The hotline was intended both for victims of trafficking and for people planning to travel internationally who sought advice about trafficking risks. This illustrates the network's combination of victim-oriented support, prevention and public information. La Strada International progressively expanded its participation in international policy structures. In July 2010, it received consultative status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council. This status enabled the organisation to participate more actively in ECOSOC-related work and to engage with UN bodies and member states on trafficking concerns. LSI has also participated in the OSCE Alliance Expert Coordination Team, the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency Platform and the Council of Europe system. Its network relationships have included the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, PICUM and the Human Rights and Democracy Network. Between 2009 and 2012, LSI worked with Anti-Slavery International on Comp.act, a European project aimed at improving access to justice and securing compensation for trafficked people. The initiative had institutional support from the Council of Europe and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. It reflected a broader shift in anti-trafficking policy from identification and protection alone toward legal remedies, accountability and compensation. In 2013, La Strada International began coordinating the La Strada NGO Platform. The platform brought together 21 European NGOs from 20 countries and broadened the network's collaborative scope beyond trafficking narrowly defined, including migration, labour rights and sex work. Through this platform and its wider institutional relationships, LSI positioned itself as an intermediary between grassroots organisations, European civil society and international policy bodies. La Strada International is not documented as a commercial brand, listed company or corporate group. Its importance lies in its network function: supporting independent organisations, producing and circulating knowledge, advocating for rights-based anti-trafficking policies and creating channels through which affected people and civil-society groups can influence European and international decision-making.
- 2013
La Strada NGO Platform coordination begins
[1]LSI begins coordinating a platform of 21 European NGOs from 20 countries working on trafficking, migration, labour rights and sex work.
- 2012
Comp.act project concludes
[1]The three-year Comp.act initiative reaches its stated end after work on access to justice and compensation.
- 2010
ECOSOC consultative status granted
[1]LSI receives consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
- 2009
Comp.act project begins
[1]La Strada International and Anti-Slavery International begin a three-year European project focused on justice and compensation for trafficked people.
- 2004
La Strada International Association is formalised
[1]The informal network is incorporated as an international association in October 2004.
- 2002
La Strada Ukraine launches a national anti-trafficking hotline
[1]La Strada Ukraine and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights establish a free hotline in Ukraine for trafficking victims and people seeking travel-risk information.
- 1995
Informal La Strada network begins
[1]An informal cross-border network of organisations addressing trafficking in persons begins operating in Europe.
Products and positioning
A rights-based European civil-society network that combines national anti-trafficking practice with international research, advocacy and policy coordination.
Network coordination · 2004
International Secretariat
The Amsterdam-based International Secretariat coordinates the association's international work. Its functions include collecting and sharing information, supporting research, developing organisational capacity, maintaining or supporting data resources on trafficking cases and patterns, and communicating the network's concerns to European and international institutions.
Research and advocacy
Anti-trafficking research and information resources
LSI's research and information work supports understanding of trafficking cases and trends across national contexts. The network has pursued online and national-level information systems, evidence collection and communication intended to improve policy responses and strengthen the ability of civil-society organisations to advocate for trafficked people.
Civil-society network · 2013
La Strada NGO Platform
The La Strada NGO Platform is a European collaboration coordinated by LSI. In 2013 it was described as comprising 21 NGOs from 20 countries. Its scope includes human trafficking as well as migration, labour rights and sex-work-related concerns, giving participating organisations a broader forum for cooperation and policy engagement.
Victim support and prevention · 2002
Ukrainian anti-trafficking hotline
Established by La Strada Ukraine with OSCE/ODIHR in 2002, the free national hotline provided assistance to victims of trafficking and information to people planning international travel. It also served a preventive function by helping callers understand trafficking risks before departure.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Comp.act
Europe
A three-year European project implemented by La Strada International and Anti-Slavery International to improve trafficked people's access to justice and prospects of receiving compensation.
Outcome. The project ran through 2012 and received institutional support from the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR.
Brand decisions
2010
Pursue formal participation in UN policy processesOtherBackground
LSI sought a stronger role in international discussions concerning trafficking in persons and the rights of affected people.
Action taken
The organisation obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Aftermath
LSI became able to participate more actively in ECOSOC-related work and engage with UN bodies and member states.
2004
Formalise the La Strada network as an international associationStrategyBackground
An informal anti-trafficking network had operated since 1995 and required a formal structure for international coordination.
Action taken
La Strada International Association was created in October 2004, while national programmes continued to be implemented by independent human-rights NGOs.
Aftermath
The association gained a shared international secretariat and a platform for coordinated research, advocacy and institutional engagement.
Sources2 sources
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