|
Minsk, 16 August 2005 Only through close cooperation can countries efficiently counteract human trafficking was the conclusion of participants in an international workshop held in Kyiv between 11 and 13 in the framework of a joint project of the European Union and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) aimed at combating trafficking in women in the Republic of Belarus.
The workshop focused on "Cooperation and Experience Exchange among Governmental and Non-governmental Organizations in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova to Counteract Human Trafficking. It was noted that human trafficking in Belarus has not assumed such a large-scale form as in other post-Soviet countries and that this became possible thanks to the improvement of national regulations, educational work among girls and women, and the development of a system of social services for trafficking victims.
While presenting the EU/UNDP project to the gathering, its manager, Yury Fyodorov, reviewed the achievements made in preventing and combating human trafficking and providing assistance to trafficking victims.
He noted that the project's recommendations with regard to changes to Belarus' regulations had been taken into consideration in a Decree of the President of Belarus of 9 March, 2005 "On Some Measures to Counteract Human Trafficking" as well as in a Presidential Edict of 8 August 2005 "On the Prevention of Consequences of Human Trafficking."
Marion Becker, a German independent expert noted that Belarus had a hotline through which callers can get the necessary information to protect themselves from human traffickers," "We do not have such a line. I think we should borrow Belarus' experience in this area", he said.
According to the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, more than 1,100 criminal cases relating to human trafficking have been detected in the country in the last three years. As many as 38 such cases were disclosed in the first seven months of 2005.
The EU/UNDP Project "Combating Trafficking in Women in the Republic of Belarus" helps prevent and reduce human trafficking cases through the development of trans-border cooperation between Belarus and the European Union in this area.
For further information please contact the manager of the UNDP's "Combating Trafficking in Women in the Republic of Belarus" project, Yury Fyodorov, at telephone number 222-49-37, e-mail:
|