Joint public outreach efforts discussed at OSCE-supported inter-agency Platform meeting on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings

The inter-agency Platform for Action on increasing co-operation in raising public awareness about the risks of trafficking in human beings, supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Kyrgyz State Service on Migration, held its first meeting in 2016 on 26 April 2016 in Bishkek.

“The current Platform gives us an opportunity to assess what has already been done and what public authorities, international organizations and civil society should focus on in the anti-trafficking field,” said Deputy Head of the Kyrgyz State Service on Migration Almazbek Asanbaev. “Our goal is to jointly develop a sustainable mechanism that will allow us avoiding fragmentation in our action.”

Anete Erdmane, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “Strong co-operation between different governmental structures, relevant agencies and non-governmental sector is crucial in preventing and fighting trafficking in human beings. Public awareness campaigns, outreaching to all layers of the society is an important part of the prevention measures, requiring attention of all the relevant actors involved.”

Representatives of the Parliament, Kyrgyz Social Development Ministry, Interior Ministry, Health Ministry, international and non-governmental organizations participated at the event and emphasised the importance of joint action and discussed the most effective ways of co-ordinating public outreach efforts in line with the 2013-16 National Action Plan.

The initiative is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on addressing human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan through grassroots initiatives and multi-agency co-operation.