OSCE Mission supports Serbian authorities' fight against human trafficking

BELGRADE, 16 October 2009 - On the eve of European Anti-Trafficking Day marked on 18 October, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Dimitrios Kypreos, praised today the Serbian Government's efforts in combating human trafficking, a crime which he said remains a constant threat.

"The OSCE Mission fully supports the endeavours of the Serbian authorities in implementing the national strategy for combating human trafficking," said Kypreos. "We contribute to this work through expert advice, as well as through institutional and professional capacity-building activities for Serbian police officers, prosecutors, judges, and social workers."

Kypreos emphasized the role of the Interior Ministry for increasing the number of investigations initiated and cases solved, as well as for improving victim identification procedures.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said: "Trafficking in human beings devalues human accomplishments and equally undermines technological, scientific or industrial developments in any society."

Serbia is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women and children trafficked internationally and internally, mainly for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. The majority of identified Serbian victims in 2009 have been female, roughly half of them children. The mandate of the Mission stipulates that combating trafficking in human beings is one of its priorities.