OSCE Special Representative stresses human rights approach to fight trafficking in persons and protect victims
MONTREUX, Switzerland, 24 November 2015 – In her keynote address at the Informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Seminar on Human Rights, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, today outlined the importance of a human rights approach to combating trafficking in persons.
“Addressing trafficking as a human rights violation implies a state obligation to put in place preventive and protective measures for persons at risk, as well as potential, presumed and actual victims,” the Special Representative said. “Moreover, a human rights approach which bolsters the social, economic, cultural and political rights of vulnerable and exploited persons can ultimately reduce and prevent exploitation and trafficking.”
On the margins of the ASEM Seminar, Jarbussynova also co-organized a side-event with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs devoted to domestic servitude in diplomatic households. The OSCE has worked with participating States to combat this phenomenon since 2010, holding a series of workshops across the region from 2012-2014 to raise awareness about the need to adopt concrete measures to prevent exploitation in diplomatic households. Such trafficking is hidden and gender-based, involving mostly girls, women and migrant workers.
“The reality is that no country can deal with this problem on its own,” Jarbussynova said. “Therefore international co-operation and co-ordination is essential and should be strengthened. We should keep in mind that diplomatic personnel are constantly moving from one country to another one and that not only countries with big international communities are concerned.”
During the event, Jarbussynova introduced the French-language version of her Office’s handbook on preventing domestic servitude which was translated with financial support from the Swiss government.
As a result of the project, 13 participating States have stepped up their efforts to combat this form of trafficking by issuing new regulations, increasing existing human capacity to respond to allegations as well as making it a priority in national action plans to combat human trafficking.