OSCE joins forces with international organizations to seek answers to irregular migration problem

A project organised jointly by the OSCE, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Organization for Migration, to map the links between irregular migration, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings along the East Mediterranean Migration Route, began with a seminar in Vienna on 30 and 31 October 2013.

The seminar is being organized by OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) with the aim of strengthening co-operation among countries of origin, transit and destination in combating irregular migration and related transnational organized crimes.  It is being attended by migration and criminal justice practitioners from such located along the East Mediterranean Migration Route.

“The link between irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking is a complex, multifaceted and sensitive issue. Migrants who have no option of legally migrating regularly turn to the services of smugglers and traffickers, and organised criminal groups are quick to exploit these vulnerable people,“ said Marco Kubny, Acting Head of the TNTD / Strategic Police Matters Unit.

Sharing best practices and establishing good working relations between the migration and law enforcement agencies through such projects will help everyone involved to create more efficient common responses to irregular migration, he added.

This seminar will be followed by desk research, expert consultations and a meeting to exchange experiences and international best practices.