OSCE Special Representative calls for enhanced social justice to better prevent and combat trafficking in human beings

VIENNA, 20 February 2011 - The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, on the occasion of the World Day for Social Justice, emphasized that working towards social justice includes promoting the social inclusion of the most vulnerable people, those who are deprived of any rights and social protection. This is also essential to preventing and fighting trafficking in human beings.

“It is our duty to stand by those who every day suffer a terrible and manifest injustice - women, men and a significant number of children who are exploited and forced to work long hours even 14 hours a day without pay, receiving little food, often beaten and threatened if they want to leave. We cannot tolerate this situation, which involves millions of people worldwide,” said Giammarinaro.

Among trafficked persons are society’s most vulnerable - the poor and socially excluded, often discriminated against on grounds such as sex, age, ethnic origin, membership of a national minority, or immigrant background, who live outside the protection of the rule of law.

Trafficked persons are deprived of their rights – as human beings and as workers – and are forced to contribute to economic growth without receiving any fair reward. “This is modern-day slavery,” said Giammarinaro.

“To prevent and fight against trafficking in human beings means to promote decent work, to build societies free from the cancer of organized crime and corruption, based on the principles of non-discrimination and the rule of law, and inspired by the ideal of social justice, in which human rights and fundamental freedoms can really flourish.”