OSCE Special Representative meets Armenian officials to discuss priorities in fight against human trafficking

YEREVAN, 8 May 2009 - The OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Eva Biaudet, welcomed today the Armenian authorities' efforts to combat trafficking in human beings and underscored the need to place human trafficking higher on the political agenda.

In Yerevan on a three-day visit that ends today, Biaudet participated in the opening ceremony of the Anti-Trafficking Support and Resource Unit, which was established by the OSCE Office in Yerevan under the Ministry of Labour and Social Issues with the support of the Governments of France, Germany, Sweden and the United States. She expressed the hope that the Unit would help improve protection of victims and serve as a forum for discussion, training, gathering and analyzing information, and for developing feasible goals for combating human trafficking.

In particular, Biaudet stressed the need for better victim identification: "Enhanced co-operation between NGOs providing assistance to victims and law enforcement agencies is a pre-requisite for better victim identification and I urge the Armenian authorities to put more effort into also investigating possible cases of internal trafficking among vulnerable populations."

During her visit, Biaudet met Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Council on Trafficking Issues, as well as representatives of the National Assembly, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Labour and Social Issues and Education, the police, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsman. She also discussed co-operation and co-ordination in the field with representatives of civil society and international organizations.

"I welcome the increased efforts of the Armenian authorities to bring traffickers to justice. However, I am concerned that the vast majority of convicted persons in recent years have been women. Some of these women are former victims, and I encourage efforts to be directed towards effective prosecution of all responsible persons, including the main profiteers," said Biaudet.

The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, said his Office stands ready to continue providing support to all relevant Armenian actors: "The OSCE has always been an active international actor in anti-trafficking activities in Armenia. The Anti-Trafficking Support and Resource Unit will promote further effective co-operation between key national and international anti-trafficking actors in Armenia to provide for improved prevention, protection and referral mechanisms in the country."