Ensuring risk reduction of human trafficking in crisis situations remains high on agendas the objective of OSCE Special Representative’s visit to Ukraine
KYIV, 10 July 2017 – OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, on 7 July concluded an official visit to Ukraine aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking and the risks encountered by vulnerable groups as a consequence of the ongoing crisis.
Commencing her five-day visit in Mariupol, she met with representatives of the Donetsk Oblast state police and briefed staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine on best practices in monitoring and reporting human trafficking-related trends. Jarbussynova also met with representatives from relevant international organizations and civil society to discuss the situation on the ground and how best to prevent the expansion of conflict-driven human trafficking by improving the mechanisms for identifying, referring and assisting victims.
“With the political solutions outlined in the Minsk agreements to resolve the conflict yet to be implemented, internally displaced persons remain particularly at risk of finding themselves in situations where human trafficking may occur,” Jarbussynova said. “Reducing the risk of trafficking to which people in and around conflict areas, particularly women and unaccompanied minors, are exposed must remain high on the agendas of all relevant stakeholders.”
In Kyiv, the OSCE Special Representative met with Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, to discuss the publication of a special thematic report on human trafficking in conflict areas, before briefing the Mission’s Head Office team in Kyiv and meeting with Alexander Hug, Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the Mission. She also met with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, including the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, to discuss progress in anti-trafficking measures and to review future plans.
“The Government of Ukraine continues to demonstrate a high level of commitment to addressing human trafficking,” said Jarbussynova. “I am pleased to see that progress has been made in victim identification and note that conviction rates for human traffickers are improving.”
While gaps remain, she welcomed that the Government of Ukraine in October 2016 had intensified its efforts to address human trafficking by taking a number of steps, including the adoption of the international community’s recommendations to increase funding for the Ukrainian National Action Plan.
Jarbussynova also took part in a conference organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, in which she and members of her Office briefed participants on the challenges in identifying and responding to cases of labour exploitation and trafficking for forced labour, both within and outside the territory of Ukraine.
The Special Representative travels regularly to Ukraine, engaging with high-level authorities and holding training sessions together with the Special Monitoring Mission and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian institutions and OSCE monitors to spot human trafficking trends and report on alleged cases.