Discussions on a victim-centred approach and multi-agency co-operation in combating trafficking in human beings were held during an OSCE-organized online seminar on 22 and 23 November 2021.
The seminar was led by Oleksandr Kyrylenko, Programme Officer, and Tetiana Rudenko, Senior Co-ordination Officer from the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordination for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. International and national experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan presented steps to strengthen the interagency response to human trafficking in light of current national and international challenges. They also discussed practices and approaches to comprehensive assistance to victims of human trafficking in the OSCE region.
Representatives from the Mejlis (lower chamber) of the Milli Gengesh (Parliament) of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Justice, Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, State Migration and Border Services, Supreme Court, Ombudsperson’s Office, Bar Association, and Institute of State, Law and Democracy, Women’s Union and Youth Organizations of Turkmenistan attended the event.
In his opening address, John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat said: “Trafficking in human beings is a complex, multi-faceted crime and a severe violation of human rights, which concerns all OSCE participating States. It intersects with issues of fundamental rights and the rule of law; law enforcement and crime control; inequality and discrimination; corruption, economic deprivation and migration.”
He noted that, for a number of years, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat has been assisting the government of Turkmenistan in building the capacity of government agencies and civil society organizations in preventing human trafficking, strengthening prosecution efforts by training law enforcement and other agencies, and assisting victims. The OSCE is the largest regional organization that engages in a broad range of security issues, where human rights issues, including the protection of the legitimate rights of the victims of human trafficking, are instrumental.
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Source: Centre of OSCE in Ashgabat.
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