KYIV, 15 October 2009 - An OSCE-supported conference on the protection of the rights of trafficked persons and the prosecution of traffickers started in Kyiv today. 

The two-day event, which brings together some 150 judges, policymakers, law enforcement practitioners and representatives of non-governmental organizations from the OSCE region, is being held on the eve of European Anti-Trafficking Day, marked on 18 October.

The event is supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and co-organized with the Academy of Judges of Ukraine.

The conference participants will discuss legislative, judiciary, prosecutorial and investigative efforts in combating trafficking in human beings. They will focus on protection of trafficked persons' rights in criminal proceedings, including rights to safety, privacy, recovery and dignity. Experts from Moldova, Kazakhstan, and the Russian Federation will share experiences of their countries' anti-trafficking responses, and specialized NGOs will talk about their work with victims..

"The judiciary plays a crucial role in eliminating human trafficking and ensuring that victims are treated with dignity and protected," said Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. "The victim-centred approach may encourage others to come forward and report about their cases."

Iryna Voytiuk, the President of the Academy of Judges of Ukraine stressed the importance of making sure that traffickers feel no impunity. "Only adequate punishment of human traffickers will serve as a clear indication that society no longer tolerates this crime," she said.

The event is part of the project "Support to Ukrainian institutions to better prevent and combat trafficking in human beings" implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.