OSCE Mission to Skopje encourages co-operation between state and local authorities to combat human trafficking

SKOPJE, 13 May 2008 - Fostering co-operation between state institutions and civil society to combat human trafficking and strengthening the role of the country's National Referral Mechanism Office at the local level, is the aim of a series of public debates launched in Kicevo and Bitola today.

Participants will discuss ways 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 project was initiated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and is supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.

"The co-operation with local and regional stakeholders has resulted in some of the country's most successful achievements in creating a response to human trafficking," said Donald Bisson, the Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Department.

"Local co-ordination, as well as the establishment of a National Referral Mechanism in order to protect the rights of victims and ensure an effective referral and appropriate delivery of services to all trafficking victims, echo the best practices identified within the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings."

Elena Grozdanova, State Counselor in the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, said: "It is essential to promote co-ordination and co-operation of all central institutions with the local ones, including NGOs. Through these public debates, representatives of municipalities will be better informed and discuss ways to better combat human trafficking."

In the next two weeks, more public debates will be held in Kumanovo, Kocani and Gevgelija.