Effective anti-trafficking policies include not only the prosecution of traffickers but also protecting the rights of trafficked persons.  International legal instruments, at both the UN and European level, outline a broad range of interrelated measures that national governments should undertake to protect and assist trafficking victims.  While much effort has been made to harmonize criminal legislation and facilitate cooperation of law enforcement agencies across borders, the same is not necessarily true for the provision of victim services.  As Ann Jordan, Director of the Initiative Against Trafficking in Persons of the International Human Rights Law Group, points out "the [UN] Trafficking Protocol treats law enforcement as a shared responsibility of all governments but it treats victim issues as the individual responsibility of governments."  At the regional level, however, organizations like the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking have called upon governments of European countries to focus on protection of trafficked persons through a "regional network of counter-measures," which would involve cross-border communication and cooperation.

The range of recommended measures is extensive, and advocates who are working to create legislation on the provision of services should analyze the specific needs of victims in the country.  There are, however, general guidelines about victim protection and assistance that should be incorporated into any draft laws.