OREANDA-NEWS. August 26, 2009. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under President of Turkmenistan (TNIDHR) and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking seminar in Ashgabat. The forum brought together the deputies of the Mejlis, officials of the MFA, the Ministry of Justice, law enforcement agencies, the Institute of State and Law under President of Turkmenistan, TNIDHR, workers of the social welfare, healthcare and educational establishments, the representatives of the foreign embassies and international organisations in the conference hall of the President Hotel. The participants representing the UNDOC, Europol and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) were invited as experts to the seminar. Mrs Eva Biaudet, OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, who had arrived in Ashgabat on a working visit, took part in the forum.

The forum focused on the issues related to such an urgent and complicated problem of the modern world as trafficking in human beings as well as the control and preventive measures. For many years this problem was put on the agenda of global efforts to combat organized crime and ensure the respect for human rights. In this regard the seminar participants spotlighted the role of a variety of the government agencies and civil society in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, especially children.

Spotlighting Turkmenistan’s principled stand on this issue Mrs. Eva Biaudet said that in 2005 Turkmenistan joined the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Palermo Protocol to this Convention. The OSCE Special Representative welcomed the adoption of the Law of Turkmenistan “On Control Human Trafficking” that set forth the adequate means for counteraction to this evil including promotion of international cooperation. It was emphasized that consistent implementation of this Law and coordination of the activities of the participating sides played an essential role on combating this crime and providing assistance to victims.

The international experts made the thematic presentations during the seminar. These included the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings adopted in 2003 and the mechanism of its implementation. During the seminar the guests from Ukraine and the Netherlands shared the experiences of their countries in this area.

In conclusion the participants expressed satisfaction with the seminar outcomes emphasizing that they would promote elaborating the strategy for further implementation of the OSCE Action Plan, concerting efforts and developing constructive cooperation to ensure the welfare and safety of citizens, protect their honour and dignity.