OSCE Belgrade seminar focuses on assistance to human trafficking victims
(IOM)Continuous awareness campaigns on human trafficking are an important tool for tackling this modern form of slavery. (IOM)
BELGRADE, 4 October 2004 - Recognizing that trafficked persons are "victims" rather than criminals and improving the standards of care are the focus of an interactive two-day training seminar starting today in Belgrade, organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro.
The seminar brings together professionals from the State Agency for Co-ordination of Protection of Victims of Trafficking with special anti-trafficking police teams from Belgrade Police Secretariat, the Interior Ministry's Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, as well as different departments of the Belgrade Social Work Centre.
A number of key non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on assistance to trafficking and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will also provide their experience and expertise.
The training seminar is part of the OSCE Mission's efforts to support a highly effective partnership between governmental and NGO sectors in Serbia to fight this particular form of organized crime.
One of the key problems to be addressed is recognizing persons as victims of human trafficking. The regional statistics from 2003 suggest that nine out of ten persons trafficked through Serbia to other countries were not properly identified as victims.
A State Agency for Co-ordination of Protection of Victims of Trafficking was established earlier this year by the OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy. This Agency consolidates the efforts and know-how of both governmental and NGO sectors in the process of identifying and assisting victims. The Agency performed well during the regional police operation "Mirage" last May, which targeted human traffickers.
The training courses will be conducted by experts from the Dutch Foundation Admira, specialists in providing assistance to human trafficking victims.
The seminar brings together professionals from the State Agency for Co-ordination of Protection of Victims of Trafficking with special anti-trafficking police teams from Belgrade Police Secretariat, the Interior Ministry's Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, as well as different departments of the Belgrade Social Work Centre.
A number of key non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on assistance to trafficking and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will also provide their experience and expertise.
The training seminar is part of the OSCE Mission's efforts to support a highly effective partnership between governmental and NGO sectors in Serbia to fight this particular form of organized crime.
One of the key problems to be addressed is recognizing persons as victims of human trafficking. The regional statistics from 2003 suggest that nine out of ten persons trafficked through Serbia to other countries were not properly identified as victims.
A State Agency for Co-ordination of Protection of Victims of Trafficking was established earlier this year by the OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy. This Agency consolidates the efforts and know-how of both governmental and NGO sectors in the process of identifying and assisting victims. The Agency performed well during the regional police operation "Mirage" last May, which targeted human traffickers.
The training courses will be conducted by experts from the Dutch Foundation Admira, specialists in providing assistance to human trafficking victims.