Newsroom
OSCE Mission and U.S. Embassy in Skopje hold workshop on countering human trafficking
SKOPJE 17 June 2004
SKOPJE, 17 June 2004 - In an effort to enhance domestic capacity to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases, the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the U.S. Embassy in Skopje today launched a three-day training workshop in Ohrid.
"Ensuring that law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Interior, prosecutors and investigative and trial judges have an integrated approach to human trafficking cases is essential to effective case processing," said Victor Ullom, Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Unit.
Over 30 workshop participants will address inter-agency approach and cases processing techniques, and will provide for a review of changes to the Criminal Code and the impact they have on the fight against human trafficking.
"Through the professional, collaborative efforts of key law enforcement officials increased results to combat trafficking can be achieved," said Barbara Carlin, Resident Legal Advisor for the U.S. Embassy in Skopje.
Carlin, who also serves as the Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training Officer in Skopje, noted that country's Tier 1 ranking in the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, released on June 14, underscores the necessity of continued effective law enforcement, prosecution and adjudication of cases.
The workshop, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Programme and the Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training Programme, is the second in a series of three, planned for 2004.
"Ensuring that law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Interior, prosecutors and investigative and trial judges have an integrated approach to human trafficking cases is essential to effective case processing," said Victor Ullom, Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Unit.
Over 30 workshop participants will address inter-agency approach and cases processing techniques, and will provide for a review of changes to the Criminal Code and the impact they have on the fight against human trafficking.
"Through the professional, collaborative efforts of key law enforcement officials increased results to combat trafficking can be achieved," said Barbara Carlin, Resident Legal Advisor for the U.S. Embassy in Skopje.
Carlin, who also serves as the Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training Officer in Skopje, noted that country's Tier 1 ranking in the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, released on June 14, underscores the necessity of continued effective law enforcement, prosecution and adjudication of cases.
The workshop, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Programme and the Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training Programme, is the second in a series of three, planned for 2004.