Trafficking as an issue was only first publicly addressed in 1997, and knowledge about the extent and forms of trafficking in Russia has remained relatively limited. In 2000, Russia signed the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementing Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, with Russia’s ratification occurring in March 2004.

As a means of strengthening understanding, coordination and collaboration on work addressing trafficking issues, a UN and IOM working group was established in March 2004, with UN agency membership including ILO, UNFPA, UNODC, UNDP and UNICEF. In 2006 the Group has extended its membership and now is regularly meeting with involvement of several interested Russian and international actors.