OSCE Office facilitates high-level dialogue on human trafficking

DUSHANBE, 6 August 2010 - The first session of the Dialogue on Human Trafficking facilitated by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and supported by the Government of Tajikistan, began in Dushanbe today.

"The regular co-ordination meeting requested by the Government is an important step toward addressing this very complex issue," said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, in his opening address. "The network to protect victims of trafficking at home and abroad needs to involve law enforcement, border management, social services, labour agencies, health services, prosecutors, courts, as well as victim referral and support services within both government and civil society."

Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Mamujon Sobirov, high-level officials from the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Education, Social Affairs and Labour, as well as the First Deputy General Prosecutor, the First Deputy of the National Security Committee, representatives of civil society, international organizations and diplomatic missions took part in the meeting.

The meeting participants discussed the results of the Government of Tajikistan's Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons and the Trafficking in Persons Report recently released by the US State Department.

At the request of the Government of Tajikistan, the Trafficking in Persons Dialogue will continue on a quarterly basis.