OSCE supports study visit of Azerbaijani experts to Hungary on combatting human trafficking

BAKU/ BUDAPEST, 22 September 2014 – The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku, in co-operation with the Interior Ministry of Hungary is supporting a five-day visit to Hungary, which starts today, by representatives of Azerbaijan’s government and civil society working on preventing and combatting human trafficking.

The study visit is part of the Co-ordinator’s counter-trafficking project, which aims to support the exchange of good practices and discuss the lessons learned in combatting trafficking in human beings.

“The OSCE supports Azerbaijan in its efforts to combat any form of exploitation and modern slavery. Human trafficking is a transnational threat across the OSCE area and we assist the country in implementing the third National Action Plan, approved by the Azerbaijani President on 25 July 2014,” said OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku Ambassador Alexis Chahtahtinsky. “An exchange of good practices with other OSCE participating States will help Azerbaijan to improve further in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking, as well as in protection of trafficking victims.”

The Azerbaijani delegation includes the representatives from the Interior Ministry, Victim Assistance Centre under the Labour and Social Protection, Foreign Ministry, State Migration Service, State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs as well as three civil society organizations. They will meet the Hungarian Interior Ministry, National Bureau of Investigation, Public Administration and Justice Office as well as the Victim Support Service, Family and Social Policy Institute, National Crisis Telephone Information Service and other government agencies.

The Azerbaijani and Hungarian experts will discuss the available mechanisms of support and assistance to victims, application of the national referral mechanism, procedures of detection and identification of trafficking victims, and the investigation and prosecution of trafficking for the purpose of sexual and labour exploitation. The delegation will also visit a shelter for trafficking victims in Mosonmagyarovar.