OSCE Special Representative calls for better protection of children to prevent trafficking in human beings

BRUSSELS, 7 December - Authorities should ensure children's bests interests in all actions concerning children, said the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro said today at a conference on the protection of children's rights.

"In order to prevent child trafficking, we should do a better job of protecting every child at risk, especially migrant children, unaccompanied and separated children, undocumented children and children of undocumented parents, and asylum-seeking and refugee children," Giammarinaro said at the Fundamental Rights Conference 2010 titled "Ensuring Justice and Protection for all Children", co-organized by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Belgian Presidency of the European Union.

"Children's personal and social vulnerability, and their dependency on adults for food and other basic needs, could make them easy prey to traffickers. This is why we call for enhanced and more effective national child protection systems. The best interests of the child must always be the primary consideration in any action concerning a child by all authorities, including migration authorities, which often are in charge of identifying victims of trafficking in human beings."

"Countries should establish or strengthen procedures to ensure children's best interests, with a view to identifying a durable and safe solution for each child with the child's active participation. Such procedures should also be regularly monitored. In addition, a risk assessment should always be carried out on a case-by-case basis before any decision on return is taken."

Giammarinaro also noted that vulnerable children who find themselves in a foreign country, often without any family or social support, must be treated as children first and foremost and have the right to receive immediate and unconditional assistance without any discrimination.