OSCE Special Representative highlights child victims at Vienna anti-trafficking concert

The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, on 10 November 2013 highlighted the plight of child trafficking victims at an awareness-raising concert in Vienna.

The concert featured young musicians from the AMADEUS International School Vienna and the Gnessin School of Music Moscow.  It was held at the MuTh Vienna Boys’ Choir Concert Hall and funded with proceeds from the OSCE Charity Ball.

“Music heals, and has been used as therapy in the recovery process for victims of torture and trafficking,” Giammarinaro said.

Musical performances, speeches, a film and a photo exhibition were used to raise awareness about child victims, who make up roughly a quarter of all trafficked people.

A short film Nicu provided by Unchosen, a UK anti-trafficking charity, told the story of a nine-year-old Romanian boy forced into petty criminality. An exhibition of photos “Human Trafficking Through Children’s Eyes” made by boarding school students in Moldova as part of an OSCE project took place. The project teaches professional and life skills to children without parental care.

“The students sent a message of hope and solidarity with children who have suffered abuse and exploitation,” Giammarinaro said.

Ambassador Andrey Kelin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OSCE, and Ambassador Christian Strohal, Permanent Representative of Austria to the OSCE, shared their thoughts on anti-trafficking action and the world’s youngest victims exploited in areas such as sexual exploitation, forced begging and agriculture.

Proceeds from the concert will be donated to two non-governmental organizations engaged in combating the trafficking of children.