Belgian OSCE Chairmanship stresses importance of prosecuting offenders and justice for victims of human trafficking for forced labour

VIENNA, 16 November 2006 - The Belgian Secretary of State for European Affairs, Didier Donfut, called, on behalf of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De Gucht, for a comprehensive and pro-active strategy for fighting trafficking in human beings as he opened an OSCE/Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference today.

The event addressed the problem of human trafficking for labour and bonded labour with a focus on prosecuting offenders and justice for victims.

"The topic of this conference is very much in line with the priorities of the Belgian Chairmanship, which include not only the fight against trafficking in human beings but also the fight against organized crime and the promotion of the rule of law, with particular attention to the functioning of criminal justice systems," said Secretary of State Donfut.

He emphasized that the complexity of trafficking in human beings requires a multidimensional and multi-actor response that is co-coordinated nationally and internationally.

To illustrate this point, he referred to the Special Event on 'Public-Private Partnerships in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings', co-organized by the Belgian OSCE Chairmanship and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. This event highlighted the multiple initiatives the private sector should take to complement government action, ranging from prevention and advocacy campaigns to codes of conduct or quality labels.

The Chairmanship is asking OSCE participating States to enhance the Organization's normative framework in relation to combating trafficking in human beings and has put forward concrete proposals in this respect.