OSCE to intensify the fight against trafficking in human beings

VIENNA, 20 June 2000 - The OSCE wrapped up its two-day meeting on trafficking in human beings today with a special session devoted to the work of NGOs. The participants of the meeting proposed a broad range of concrete recommendations for action by the OSCE. Among these were:

• To make the fight against trafficking a fully integrated part of the work of the OSCE, both at the political level and at its many missions and field operations;



• To develop a rapid response mechanism to deal with individual cases of trafficking;



• To work to enhance co-operation and co-ordination with other international organizations, national institutions and NGOs;



• To establish and support help mechanisms for the victims, such as safe houses, medical and legal assistance and programs for rehabilitation and reintegration;



• To call upon field operations of the OSCE to focus on the fight against trafficking in human beings and to develop monitoring, reporting and co-ordination mechanisms,



• To assist OSCE participating States to develop national strategies to combat trafficking,



• To train law enforcement and border officials and prosecutors.

"Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime and basic human rights violation," said meeting chair Ambassador Christian Strohal (Austria). "Prevention and control strategies against trafficking should be based on a dual track of strengthening law enforcement and human rights," he said. "Prosecuting and convicting traffickers should be pursued just as vigorously as working for the protection and rehabilitation of victims."

As one immediate measure, the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, recently appointed the former Austrian Minister of Women's Affairs, Helga Konrad, as the OSCE Regional Trafficking Co-ordinator for South Eastern Europe. The meeting was jointly organized by the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org