VIENNA, 3 September 2008 - How to improve countries' capacity to prosecute cases of human trafficking, taking into account the need for trafficking victims to be protected and assisted, will be the focus of a two-day OSCE conference that opens in Helsinki on Wednesday, 10 September.

The conference brings together experts, including judges and prosecutors, from countries with experience in investigating and prosecuting human trafficking. Finnish President Tarja Halonen will deliver a speech as part of the conference.

Participants from a majority of the 56 OSCE participating States will exchange views and experiences and share them with representatives of local and national authorities, and international and non-governmental organizations. Subjects to be discussed include victim/witness co-ordination, trans-border co-operation, victim protection. In addition, participants will review cases of both sex and labour trafficking.

Journalists are invited to attend the conference, set to start at 13:30 10 September at the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa. Eva Biaudet, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, and Finnish Justice Minister Tuija Brax will deliver opening speeches.

A news conference featuring Biaudet, Brax and Pietro Grasso, Chief Antimafia Prosecutor of Italy, follows at 15:00. At 17:00, Finnish President Tarja Halonen is set to deliver a speech.

For admittance to the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, please bring a valid press card to the security desk (Hilton Conference Building).

For further information, please visit the Conference website at: OSCE conference on identifying ways to successfully prosecute cases of human trafficking, Helsinki, 10-11 September 2008