OSCE Special Representative highlights role of international justice in combating trafficking

The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, spoke at the European Forum Alpbach’s Political Symposium 2011 entitled Justice – Responsibility for the Future on 29 August.

The two-day event, focusing on global equity, fairness and international justice, brought together 4,000 participants from 67 countries, from high-level politicians, researchers, journalists and activists to students and young people. Giammarinaro spoke in the panel on Current Issues on International Jurisdiction.

Giammarinaro emphasized that while the mechanisms to tackle trafficking have improved and the issue is acknowledged in national and international agendas, the challenges have increased.

“The institutional response to this growing phenomenon involving millions of people is still weak, and the crime of trafficking is rarely applied. We are determined to promote the full implementation of international instruments and national legislation in order to generate effective deterrence and to deliver justice to victims, with the final goal of their social inclusion,” she said.

Participants in the panel discussed the state of international justice today and its importance for affected population and victims, as well as the need for increased victim and witness protection, and for international co-operation. They discussed reasons to under-report trafficking, and the benefit of bringing more trafficking cases to the International Criminal Court.