Newsroom
Regional Stability Pact Co-ordinator on Trafficking visits Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 28 July 2000
SARAJEVO, 28 July 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted a visit of Dr Helga Konrad, the Regional Coordinator of the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings. Dr Konrad is currently conducting a fact-finding mission throughout Southeast Europe to explore ways to support existing efforts of the international community to combat
trafficking in human beings. Her visits to BiH included a series of meetings in Banja Luka and in Sarajevo.
"There is an increasing need for governments in Southeast Europe to join efforts to combat trafficking in human beings since no country can face the problem alone," stated Dr Konrad in one of her meetings in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Trafficking in human beings is a multidimensional
issue requiring a coordinated response at the national and international level.
Political, legislative and financial commitments are needed to not only secure the rights of victims of trafficking, but also to address the organized crime dimension of the problem," said Ambassador Robert Barry, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.
The aim of Dr Konrad's fact-finding visit to BiH was to understand mechanisms within the country and the wider region for increased co-operation and coordination and to find ways for further support of the existing efforts by the Office of the Stability Pact Task Force Chair. Her visit to Banja Luka on 14 July included meetings with the Republika Srpska (RS) Deputy Minister of Justice, the Chief of Professional-Legal Affairs of the RS Minister of Interior, the Deputy RS Prosecutor, RS Ombudsmen and members of the RING NGO Network.
In Sarajevo Dr Konrad met, among others, with the Federation BiH Prosecutor, the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, the Federation Ministers of Justice and Interior, as well as the BiH Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications.
Dr Konrad's ideas were met with support from the Ministers, international community and NGO representatives, particularly her plans to conduct a legislative review of laws applicable to trafficking and to establish a project on data collection of trafficking cases. The proposal to hold a high-level inter-governmental conference in Croatia was also met with support from the governmental representatives.
Other issues discussed included mechanisms for BiH government authorities to strengthen legislation to penalize traffickers and ensure the protection of victims. Dr Konrad also encouraged the BiH government to develop co-ordinating strategies with countries of origin and to increase the contribution to OSCE regional initiatives to combat trafficking in human
beings.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
For more information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson, Sanela Tunovic-Becirovic at 033/292-338 or 066/134-758.
trafficking in human beings. Her visits to BiH included a series of meetings in Banja Luka and in Sarajevo.
"There is an increasing need for governments in Southeast Europe to join efforts to combat trafficking in human beings since no country can face the problem alone," stated Dr Konrad in one of her meetings in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Trafficking in human beings is a multidimensional
issue requiring a coordinated response at the national and international level.
Political, legislative and financial commitments are needed to not only secure the rights of victims of trafficking, but also to address the organized crime dimension of the problem," said Ambassador Robert Barry, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.
The aim of Dr Konrad's fact-finding visit to BiH was to understand mechanisms within the country and the wider region for increased co-operation and coordination and to find ways for further support of the existing efforts by the Office of the Stability Pact Task Force Chair. Her visit to Banja Luka on 14 July included meetings with the Republika Srpska (RS) Deputy Minister of Justice, the Chief of Professional-Legal Affairs of the RS Minister of Interior, the Deputy RS Prosecutor, RS Ombudsmen and members of the RING NGO Network.
In Sarajevo Dr Konrad met, among others, with the Federation BiH Prosecutor, the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, the Federation Ministers of Justice and Interior, as well as the BiH Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications.
Dr Konrad's ideas were met with support from the Ministers, international community and NGO representatives, particularly her plans to conduct a legislative review of laws applicable to trafficking and to establish a project on data collection of trafficking cases. The proposal to hold a high-level inter-governmental conference in Croatia was also met with support from the governmental representatives.
Other issues discussed included mechanisms for BiH government authorities to strengthen legislation to penalize traffickers and ensure the protection of victims. Dr Konrad also encouraged the BiH government to develop co-ordinating strategies with countries of origin and to increase the contribution to OSCE regional initiatives to combat trafficking in human
beings.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
For more information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson, Sanela Tunovic-Becirovic at 033/292-338 or 066/134-758.