OSCE Special Representative calls for strengthening international co-operation to fight human trafficking

BANGKOK, 16 June 2005 - Strengthening co-operation between countries of origin and countries of destination is crucial in the fight against human trafficking, said OSCE Special Representative Helga Konrad.

She was speaking at a two-day conference organized by the Thai Government and the OSCE in Bangkok, entitled Sharing of Experience in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings: Opportunities for Co-operation.

"Human trafficking does not only concern countries of origin," said the OSCE Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. "It affects everyone equally - in the East and in the West alike, in Europe and in other parts of World - as countries of origin, transit or destination - and very often as a mix of all three."

The event brought together government officials and experts from Thailand and the OSCE region, as well as representatives of OSCE Partners for Co-operation and other Asian countries.

The conference aims to enhance understanding of the existing problems, encourage the exchange of information and views, share best practices and identify possible future co-operation between Asia and Europe to explore models for regional co-operation.

"One of the main priorities is the development of transnational mechanisms that will make it possible to address the whole criminal network from the beginning to the end users," said Konrad.

Thailand has played an active role in addressing the problem of human trafficking.