OSCE Special Representative commends Czech government’s co-operation with civil society to support human trafficking victims

PRAGUE, 30 November 2015 – During her official visit to the Czech Republic, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, praised the country’s authorities for collaborating with civil society to provide support for victims of modern-day slavery.

The Special Representative conducts a series of country visits every year in order to share knowledge and good practices in the fight against human trafficking and to make tailor-made recommendations to the countries visited. This was her first visit to the Czech Republic, during which she met with representatives of non-governmental and international organizations as well as the Interior Ministry, the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry, the Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and other government bodies.

“The close co-operation that I have learned about during my visit is essential to ensuring effective support for human trafficking victims,” Jarbussynova said. “Protecting victims’ rights by providing assistance as well as compensation, is a key part of the OSCE’s human rights based approach to combating human trafficking.”

The OSCE works together with participating States to eliminate human trafficking in all its forms. The Czech Republic is a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking – mainly women for the purpose of sexual exploitation and both men and women for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Ambassador Jarbussynova also met with attorneys representing aggrieved workers in what is known as the “Tree Workers Case”, where Vietnamese citizens and other foreign nationals were exploited in the forestry sector.

"I strongly recommend that Czech authorities enhance the capacities of front line officers and labour inspectorates to better identify victims of trafficking for labour exploitation", Jarbussynova said at the conclusion of the three-day visit.

Ambassador Jarbussynova also visited a “La Strada” shelter for female victims and a “Diakonie” shelter for male trafficking victims on the final day of her visit.