OSCE Centre holds seminars in Kazakhstan to prevent human trafficking

TALDYKORGAN, Kazakhstan, 18 August 2011 – The OSCE Centre in Astana launched a series of regional training seminars today to help specialized staff in orphanages and vocational schools prevent human trafficking.

The first of three two-day seminars started in Taldykorgan in Southern Kazakhstan. Later seminars will be held in Kokshetau, Northern Kazakhstan, and Ust-Kamenogorsk, Eastern Kazakhstan.

The 100 social workers, psychologists, teachers and law enforcement representatives who will take part in the seminar will learn how they can reduce the risk of trafficking by supporting the orphans’ empowerment and by helping the professionals to recognize possible cases of abuse.

"Skilled front-line staff in social, health and law enforcement professions is crucial to ensure that situations of vulnerability are identified and properly addressed,” said Stefan Buchmayer, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre in Astana. “These seminars make regional authorities aware of the problem and they foster closer co-operation between different stakeholders making anti-trafficking measures more effective."

The OSCE Centre in Astana organized the seminars in co-operation with the non-governmental organizations the Feminist League, the Union of Crisis Centres and Feniks.