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OSCE assists Yugoslav authorities in fight against trafficking in human beings
BELGRADE 19 April 2001
BELGRADE, 19 April 2001 - Key government and NGO officials involved in the fight against trafficking in human beings met in Belgrade for the first time to begin a dialog on developing a national anti-trafficking strategy. The meeting was initiated and organized by the OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
"Trafficking in human beings is an abhorrent human abuse and a serious crime", said Ambassador Stefano Sannino, the Head of the OSCE Mission. "We very much welcome the commitment demonstrated today by the Yugoslav and Serbian governments to make the combat against trafficking a priority. The OSCE stands ready to assist the federal and national governments and the NGOs active in this field."
Representatives from the Yugoslav and Serbian governments, NGO, and international organizations discussed strategies for a co-ordinated approach and structures for a comprehensive plan to combat trafficking. Among the priorities identified at the meeting were training and support for capacity building.
"It is crucial that all actors involved in the fight against trafficking co-ordinate their efforts," said Minister Helga Konrad (ODHIR), the Chair of the Stability Pact Anti-trafficking Task Force. She urged the Serbian and federal government to establish working groups on trafficking in human beings and develop action plans at both levels.
Yugoslavia had committed itself to do so by adopting the South-Eastern Anti-Trafficking Ministerial Declaration, which is signed together with the United Nations Anti-trafficking Protocol in December 2000.
Minister Konrad also suggested establishing a regional clearing point for South-Eastern Europe in Belgrade.
"Trafficking in human beings is an abhorrent human abuse and a serious crime", said Ambassador Stefano Sannino, the Head of the OSCE Mission. "We very much welcome the commitment demonstrated today by the Yugoslav and Serbian governments to make the combat against trafficking a priority. The OSCE stands ready to assist the federal and national governments and the NGOs active in this field."
Representatives from the Yugoslav and Serbian governments, NGO, and international organizations discussed strategies for a co-ordinated approach and structures for a comprehensive plan to combat trafficking. Among the priorities identified at the meeting were training and support for capacity building.
"It is crucial that all actors involved in the fight against trafficking co-ordinate their efforts," said Minister Helga Konrad (ODHIR), the Chair of the Stability Pact Anti-trafficking Task Force. She urged the Serbian and federal government to establish working groups on trafficking in human beings and develop action plans at both levels.
Yugoslavia had committed itself to do so by adopting the South-Eastern Anti-Trafficking Ministerial Declaration, which is signed together with the United Nations Anti-trafficking Protocol in December 2000.
Minister Konrad also suggested establishing a regional clearing point for South-Eastern Europe in Belgrade.