OSCE Special Representative addresses regional NGO crime prevention forum
VIENNA, 28 October 2005 - The OSCE Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Helga Konrad, addressed a two-day forum of Central and South-Eastern European non-governmental organizations (NGO) aimed at creating strategies to prevent human trafficking, urban crime and corruption.
In her address to the plenary of the 'Regional Crime Prevention Forum for NGOs from Central and Eastern Europe', the OSCE Special Representative highlighted the critical role played by NGOs in calling world-wide attention to the problem of human trafficking long before the introduction of current international conventions. Their roles as advocates, as well as providers of protection and assistance to victims, remain at the centre of a comprehensive anti-trafficking agenda.
"Little has changed for those affected the most by this crime, and there are no signs that human trafficking is actually diminishing," stated the OSCE Special Representative, voicing her concern over the discrepancies in implementing comprehensive victim assistance programmes.
Konrad cited critical gaps in combating trafficking, including the lack of proper victim identification measures, the continuing criminalization of trafficked persons, the limited attention paid to child trafficking and the special needs of child victims, the lack of a comprehensive definition of trafficking in persons within countries' legislation and the leniency of punishment to traffickers.
She also stressed the importance of institutionalized national co-ordinating structures and the need for more research on the scope of the problem at all levels.
Co-organized by the Conference of Non Governmental Organizations in consultative relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the City of Vienna, the Forum brought together more than 80 NGOs from 20 countries.
As part of a series of regional consultations, CONGO aims to establish a regional network among NGOs to work in partnership with the UN, the OSCE, other international and regional organizations and national governments to promote effective crime prevention.