WARSAW, 13 May 2004 - A handbook on sustainable ways to combat human trafficking and support victims has been published by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, one of Europe's leading human rights agencies.

The handbook, entitled National Referral Mechanisms: Joining Efforts to Protect the Rights of Trafficked Persons, provides practical tools for countries of origin, transit, and destination in the OSCE region to meet challenges connected to trafficking in human beings, mainly protecting the human rights of trafficked persons and pursuing prosecution of the perpetrators.

A prerequisite for effective anti-trafficking measures is the strengthening of relevant local and national institutions. Appropriately, the handbook will be launched on Friday, 14 May, at a three-day OSCE seminar on democratic institutions and democratic governance that opened yesterday at the Hotel Sofitel Victoria in Warsaw.

Members of the media are invited to a press conference for the launch, Friday, 14 May, at 13:00 at the Hotel Sofitel Victoria, Ul. Krolewska 11, Warsaw.