OSCE Centre in Astana participates in parliamentary presentation of draft human trafficking law

On 30 January 2013, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, took part in a discussion in the Majilis (Lower Chamber of Parliament) of Kazakhstan on amendments to the draft law on trafficking in human beings.

The amendments were initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and developed by representatives of state bodies, NGOs and international organizations through a task force supported by the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Addressing the parliamentarians, Ambassador Zarudna stressed the importance of the proposed amendments for enhancing the fight against trafficking in human beings in line with best practices in the OSCE area, and called upon the Majilis members to consider the possibility of amending current legislation with clauses on the provision of legal aid to trafficking victims. She informed the parliamentarians on the Centre’s plans related to combating human trafficking, which was identified by the Ukrainian Chairmanship as a priority for the OSCE in 2013.

The Centre has been supporting Kazakhstan’s stakeholders in further developing the anti-trafficking legislative and institutional framework as an important element in fighting transnational organized crime.