OSCE Mission supports Skopje study trip for Georgian anti-trafficking practitioners

TBILISI, 10 October 2008 - Representatives of the Georgian government and non-governmental organizations engaged in the fight against trafficking in human beings are taking part in an OSCE Mission-supported study tour to Skopje which ends today.

Representatives of the Georgian State Fund for Protection of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking, the Prosecutor's Office, the Constitutional Court and Public Defender's Office, as well as other anti-trafficking practitionersanti-trafficking practitioners
Anti-trafficking practitioners include a broad range of professionals such as law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, migration officers or asylum authorities, lawyers, labour inspectors, social welfare practitioners, NGOs, and journalists. met with counterparts from the Interior Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the National Commission to Combat Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, local NGOs and international organizations.

They discussed up-to-date approaches to fighting human trafficking and identifying and assisting victims.

"The Mission, in co-operation with other international organizations, supports the Georgian Government and NGOs in developing and implementing an effective framework for anti-trafficking activities that is in line with OSCE anti-trafficking commitments and focuses on protecting the human rights of victims," said Inkeri Aarnio-Lwoff, head of the OSCE Mission's human dimension office.

The OSCE Mission is promoting the implementation of the 2007-2008 National Action Plan against Human Trafficking, which was developed by the Government and NGONGO
non-governmental organization representatives with OSCE support, as well as assisting in preparing a new plan for 2009-2010.