Helga Konrad appointed OSCE Chair's special representative against human trafficking
(OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel)Helga Konrad is the new OSCE Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Konrad and ODIHR Director Christian Strohal answer questions on trafficking at a Vienna press conference, December 2003. (OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel) Photo details
VIENNA, 13 May 2004 - A leading expert on fighting human trafficking, former Austrian Government Minister Helga Konrad, has been appointed OSCE Special Representative on Trafficking in Human Beings by the Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy.
Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council today, Dr. Konrad said the Organization was very well placed to help disrupt the trafficking chain because its 55 participating States include countries of origin, transit and destination for trafficking.
She noted the importance of the OSCE Action Plan on Trafficking in Human Beings, adopted at the December 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council, and the UN Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.
"It is my intention to tackle all the dimensions of human trafficking, not just trafficking for sexual exploitation, but also trafficking into forced and bonded labour and in particular trafficking in children and minors," she said.
Dr. Helga Konrad, who has been chairing the Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, also drew attention to internal trafficking within countries, which, she said, is on the rise.
Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council today, Dr. Konrad said the Organization was very well placed to help disrupt the trafficking chain because its 55 participating States include countries of origin, transit and destination for trafficking.
She noted the importance of the OSCE Action Plan on Trafficking in Human Beings, adopted at the December 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council, and the UN Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.
"It is my intention to tackle all the dimensions of human trafficking, not just trafficking for sexual exploitation, but also trafficking into forced and bonded labour and in particular trafficking in children and minors," she said.
Dr. Helga Konrad, who has been chairing the Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, also drew attention to internal trafficking within countries, which, she said, is on the rise.