OSCE Skopje Mission supports development of national referral mechanism
(OSCE/Mirvete Mustafa)Victor Ullom, OSCE Skopje Mission's Head of Rule of Law, signs donation agreements with eight social work centres at a meeting organized by the National Referral Mechanism Office within the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, 21 April 2006. (OSCE/Mirvete Mustafa) Photo details
SKOPJE, 21 April 2006 - Participants of a roundtable discussion held today in Skopje supported the further development of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Office in order to strengthen the country's capability to provide adequate identification, assistance, and protection to all victims of human trafficking based on international human rights standards.
The meeting, organized by the National Referral Mechanism Co-ordination Office within the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and funded under an OSCE Spillover Mission to Skopje project, focused on the results achieved under the NRM project, as well as future challenges in providing direct assistance to trafficking victims.
"The National Referral Mechanism Office is a step in the right direction," said Victor Ullom, Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Unit. "The Mission will continue to support the activities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy that are in line with the recommendations presented in the OSCE Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking."
Stevce Jakimovski, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, said: "This project will improve and strengthen protection and assistance services available to victims, primarily women, girls, minorities and minors. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy envisages direct activities aiming to diminish the trafficking in human beings, especially through prevention and protection of victims of human trafficking."
The OSCE Mission has also signed Donation Agreements with eight Centres for Social Work in Tetovo, Kicevo, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, Kocani, Kumanovo, and Veles. Computer equipment and furniture provided under the agreements will significantly boost the capacity of these centres and help to provide assistance to victims of human trafficking.
The meeting, organized by the National Referral Mechanism Co-ordination Office within the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and funded under an OSCE Spillover Mission to Skopje project, focused on the results achieved under the NRM project, as well as future challenges in providing direct assistance to trafficking victims.
"The National Referral Mechanism Office is a step in the right direction," said Victor Ullom, Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Unit. "The Mission will continue to support the activities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy that are in line with the recommendations presented in the OSCE Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking."
Stevce Jakimovski, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, said: "This project will improve and strengthen protection and assistance services available to victims, primarily women, girls, minorities and minors. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy envisages direct activities aiming to diminish the trafficking in human beings, especially through prevention and protection of victims of human trafficking."
The OSCE Mission has also signed Donation Agreements with eight Centres for Social Work in Tetovo, Kicevo, Ohrid, Bitola, Strumica, Kocani, Kumanovo, and Veles. Computer equipment and furniture provided under the agreements will significantly boost the capacity of these centres and help to provide assistance to victims of human trafficking.