OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports Ukraine's efforts to combat human trafficking

KYIV, 7 July 2010 - The development of a new state programme to combat human trafficking, supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, began today with a first meeting of an interagency working group that will draft the programme.

The state programme for the period of 2011-2015, initiated by the Minstry for Family, Youth and Sports, aims to improve the organizational and co-operation framework and reinforce practical measures to prevent and prosecute human trafficking as well as to assist its victims.

"The development of a new State Programme of Combating Trafficking in Human Beings is an important step toward Ukrainian commitments to eliminate modern-day slavery. I hope that this new document will demonstrate a synergy between Ukraine's strategic anti-trafficking vision and a number of practical steps that would turn this vision into reality," said Lubomir Kopaj, Ambassador, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

Representatives from national authorities, including social, education, health care, labour and law enforcement agencies, as well as legal experts, international organizations and local NGOs will take part in the development of the new state programme.

The group, headed by Svitlana Tolsoukhova, the Deputy Minister of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports, will be assisted by two local experts whose work is financed by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The new anti-trafficking programme will be the fourth developed in Ukraine. It will be developed in line with the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, adopted in 2003.