Greater awareness key to human trafficking prevention, says OSCE Mission in Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 17 October 2012 – On the occasion of European Anti-Trafficking Day today, representatives of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo called for greater awareness of the threat of human trafficking. The appeal was made during a presentation of selected poems and essays written by high school students from different Kosovo communities on this topic.

The event was part of the Mission’s outreach activities held during the Kosovo Anti-Trafficking month, which included movie screenings and discussions with young people about the ways they can protect themselves and help combat human trafficking. 

“Trafficking in human beings - the buying and selling of people for the purpose of exploitation - is one of the most serious human rights violations and one of the most lucrative forms of organized crime,” said Hjortur Sverrisson, Acting Head of the Mission’s Department for Human Rights and Communities.

“Awareness raising and speaking up about this problem are key to its effective prevention. The OSCE is active in this field and I call on the public to do its part by getting informed and reporting possible cases of human trafficking to the free anti-trafficking helpline 0800-11-112,” added Sverrisson.

In addition to raising awareness through outreach activities and public information campaigns, the Mission is helping relevant institutions in Kosovo including the police, judiciary, social workers and NGOs to improve their responses to trafficking cases and better assist victims.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human rights protection and promotion, democratization and security and public safety sector development.

TV spots promoting the anti-trafficking helpline can be viewed at: //www.osce.org/sq/kosovo/84074