Measures to prevent domestic servitude in diplomatic households highlighted in new OSCE handbook

A new handbook for relevant authorities across the OSCE region on how to prevent human trafficking for the purpose of domestic servitude in diplomatic households was launched by the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, on 4 November 2014 in Vienna.

The handbook, presented at a side event of the 14^th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons conference, marks the culmination of a series of workshops over the past three years on preventative measures to tackle the exploitation of private domestic workers hired by diplomatic personnel that were held. The new publication summarizes and expands upon the issues discussed in these workshops, informing the relevant authorities about how to detect abuse and how to react to exploitative situations while at the same time, protecting the rights of domestic workers.

The Special Representative’s efforts in this area have been strongly supported by Switzerland, which has been the main donor for the project and also the host of the initial workshop in 2012.

“I am convinced that our combined expertise and political will can improve the situation of private domestic workers across the OSCE region,” Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter said in the foreword to the publication. “We will not stop until we end exploitation and abuse in all forms.”

The handbook is designed for protocol departments of foreign ministries and other relevant ministries which have the responsibility to regulate and oversee the employment of private domestic workers hired by diplomatic personnel.

Ambassador Jarbussynova said: “Trafficking for domestic servitude has been detected in many OSCE countries and it is important that we continue to work with the diplomatic community to prevent it. Protocol departments can play their part by informing workers of their rights, monitoring the respect of national regulations by the employers and helping the victims when abuse and exploitation occur.”

The handbook, which was developed at the request of the workshop participants, was funded by Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. In addition to Switzerland, Belgium, Ukraine and the Netherlands also hosted workshops.

“We care for the safety and security of domestic workers residing in our territories, the abuse of their rights is intolerable, regardless of the status of the perpetrator and we have to react wherever such abuses occur,” Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, said at the launch. “This means zero tolerance towards all forms of exploitation, irrespective of its nature and the status of the perpetrator.”

The final event of the project will be held in Vienna on 9 December 2014 when senior-level representatives of protocol departments and other officials meet to discuss good practices and innovative measures to combat domestic servitude in diplomatic households.