OSCE PCU, Ministry of Interior and National Police of Ukraine present results and set priorities in combating trafficking in human beings

Kyiv, 27 February 2018 – High-level government representatives from Ukraine, along with representatives of NGOs and of the international donor community met today in Kyiv to present annual achievements in combating trafficking in human beings and to set the strategies for the upcoming year.

The event was conducted within the framework of the project financed by the Government of Canada and the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of state authorities and civil society to provide adequate assistance to trafficking victims.

“The Ministry of Interior and the National Police of Ukraine have invested significant efforts into uncovering and investigating the cases of trafficking in human beings. In 2017, the number of recorded criminal cases tripled compared to 2016. However, we further need to strengthen the investigation of trafficking in human beings cases and the prosecution and conviction of human traffickers” said Tetyana Kovalchuk, Deputy Minister of Interior, announcing that 2018 will be officially named as the year of combating trafficking in human beings.  

Jeffrey Erlich, Senior Project Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine said: “Along with the other 56 participating States of the OSCE, Ukraine has committed to a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive approach to address human trafficking. It is the task of field missions like the Project Coordinator in Ukraine, to support national efforts, and I am pleased to note that in 2017, the government sought out substantive and meaningful cooperation in a wide range of areas”. 

High-level speakers from the Ministry of Social Policy, the National Police of Ukraine, and the General Prosecutor’s office highlighted the efforts undertaken by the national stakeholders in combating trafficking in human beings.  Framing priorities in trafficking prevention, discussing recommendations for improving interagency co-operation and elaborating strategies on how to strengthen responses to counter trafficking in human beings were of particular interest to the multi-stakeholder auditorium.