Denmark’s actions to prevent human trafficking for forced labour commendable, says OSCE Special Representative on official visit to Denmark

Copenhagen, 17 May 2017 – OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, concluded on Wednesday a three-day official visit to Denmark to discuss the country’s implementation of OSCE anti-trafficking commitments.

“Denmark's actions to prevent human trafficking for the purposes of forced labour in businesses and public procurement are commendable,” Jarbussynova noted. “The guidelines developed by the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking serve as a good practice to be followed in the region and beyond." 

“Danish authorities have advanced the institutional framework to combat human trafficking. However, stronger co-ordination mechanisms with the engagement of all stakeholders will improve the state's response to this heinous and often hidden crime,” the Special Representative commented. She also suggested that increased attention to regular monitoring and evaluation would be of benefit to the development of a new National Action Plan Against Human Trafficking, which is currently in progress. A country visit report detailing findings and recommendations will be made available later this year. 

Jarbussynova held in-depth discussions with the Under Secretary for Gender Equality of the Danish Foreign Ministry, Anne Kaae Hansen, and a wide range of government officials from the Ministry of Children, Social Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Justice. She also engaged in discussions with representatives of the Danish National Police, the Public Prosecution Service and the Danish Customs and Tax Authority. 

Further interlocutors were representatives of the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking, the Danish Working Environment Authority, the Association of Judges, the Danish Immigration Service at the Ministry of Immigration and the Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The Special Representative regularly conducts goal-oriented high-profile country visits to strengthen the capacity of OSCE participating States to address human trafficking in a comprehensive and effective manner, as well as to collect and share knowledge and best practices in preventing this serious human rights violation. In 2017, she has visited the Russian Federation and Denmark. Further country visits are planned this year to Canada, Mongolia and Uzbekistan.