Finnish parliamentarian Eva Biaudet appointed OSCE special representative on combating human trafficking

VIENNA, 19 October 2006 - Eva Biaudet, a Finnish Member of Parliament, has been appointed today as the OSCE Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Ms Biaudet, who is a former Finnish Minister of Health and Social Services, will assist the 56 OSCE participating States in implementing the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, adopted at the December 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council.

The Action Plan provides for human rights-based responses to prevent trafficking, protecting the rights of trafficked persons and bringing perpetrators to justice in the OSCE region. A key part of Ms Biaudet's work will be to promote co-operation with governments, civil society and international organizations in the fight against trafficking and to raise the public and political profile of the combat against trafficking in human beings.

During her tenure as minister, Ms Biaudet launched a Nordic-Baltic campaign against trafficking and was strongly engaged in raising awareness and fostering public debate on the problem. As a Member of Parliament, she has helped shape Finnish legislation on trafficking. She has also participated for many years in the human rights work of non-governmental organizations, especially in the field of child protection, gender and refugees.