OSCE Project Co-ordinator offers anti-trafficking courses for Ukrainian local police

LUTSK, Ukraine, 26 February 2008 - The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine launched a new series of regional training courses on combating human trafficking, with the first course held in north-western Ukraine today.

The series of eight regional anti-trafficking seminars, for local section heads of the precinct police inspectors' service, is a continuation of the joint initiative between the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the Department of Civil Security of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. Four such regional training courses were already conducted by the OSCE in Ukraine in July and August 2007.

Ambassador James F. Schumaker, OSCE Project Co-ordinator, said: "The Precinct Police Inspectors Service within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry represents the branch of the police force closest to the local communities. The inspectors may play a significant role in preventing trafficking, as well as in providing assistance to the trafficked persons and support to the investigation."

He added: "Last year's anti-trafficking training courses for the precinct police inspectors have increased their awareness of trafficking in human beings as a violation of human rights and provided a better understanding of the problem of trafficking and the victims' circumstances.

"In response to the participants' request for additional information on this subject, we are now supplementing the trainings sessions with a special brochure and a set of awareness raising materials. We are also planning to expand the training and networking opportunities for these officers and the anti-trafficking NGOs."

The training courses will be held in different regions of Ukraine through March.

The regional training courses were initiated together with the Ukrainian Interior Ministry as part of the State Programme to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings for the Period till 2010 and the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Action Plan recommends combining the efforts of law enforcement bodies, both specialized anti-trafficking units and the local police, and other governmental and civil society institutions.

The training sessions are funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Danish Programme Against Human Trafficking in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.