OSCE promotes inter-agency dialogue on prevention of trafficking in human beings

Preventing human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan and enhancing inter-agency cooperation was the focus of an OSCE-supported roundtable meeting held on 29 November 2013 in Bishkek.

Representatives of the Kyrgyz government, Presidential Administration, Prosecutor’s office, civil society and international organizations participated in the event.

Participants discussed the challenges of implementing a recently adopted three-year National Action Plan on combating human trafficking, which the OSCE helped develop. A report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on national referral mechanisms and frameworks through which states co-ordinate their efforts with civil society to protect and promote the human rights of trafficked persons was presented.  Additionally, a report linking vulnerability and human trafficking risk factors in southern Kyrgyzstan was discussed.

The latest activities aimed at trafficking prevention were discussed, and representatives of civil society had the opportunity to share information on victims’ assistance and migrants’ needs, as well as seek responses from state institutions.

The event is part of a project organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek  on engaging law enforcement, local state institutions, civil society and religious leaders to prevent trafficking of human beings in Kyrgyzstan.