COATNET aims at exchanging best practice, doing joint prevention measures and facilitating the assistance of trafficked women (return, provision of safe shelters, reintegration and legal matters) across borders.  At trans-national level participants in COATNET encourage other Christian organisations to take action in this field and provide relevant assistance where wished.

The COATNET network comprises Caritas Member organisations from the regions North America, Europe, Africa, MONA and Asia, and soon there will be users from all 7 CI regions.

Participants in COATNET actively implement prevention and awareness raising activities, they assist trafficked women and support their re-integration, they do advocacy work and networking in their countries.

COATNET is running a multilingual website (www.coatnet.org) where it aims to reach governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the field, groups at risk, trafficked women and the general public in order to provide them with relevant information. This resource also increases the visibility of the action of Christian Organisations in this field.

For the rapid exchange of more confidential information and the co-ordination of actions in assisting trafficked women, the partners in the project use an Intranet facility, which has a closed user-structure and is accessible only with a password.

Over recent years, a strong and fruitful ecumenical cooperation has developed in the fight against trafficking in women – most prominently with the partner organisation CCME (Churches’ Commission on Migrants in Europe), which as an ecumenical agency mainly encompasses Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Churches and their related organisations.

The ecumenical cooperation against trafficking has not only produced valuable practical results for the participating organisations, but is an encouraging sign of joint Christian witness, which is also manifested and visible through a joint logo.  
  
As of 1 January 2004 COATNET has become a network integrated into the structures and operating under the legal authority of Caritas Europa.