The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and Foreign Ministry organise a conference on trafficking in persons
Press release 203/2004
16.9.2004
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR, organises in cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland on 23-24 September in Helsinki at the House of the Estates a conference focusing on trafficking in persons "Ensuring Human Rights Protection in Countries of Destination: Breaking the Cycle of Trafficking". Protecting the human rights of trafficking victims in countries of destination is the main topic at a conference. The conference is expected to draw some 150 international experts.
Speakers at the opening will include Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, Judge at the Criminal Court in Rome, the Finnish Minister of Justice, Mr. Johannes Koskinen, Ms. Rita Süssmuth, Chair of the German Experts Council for Immigration and Integration, Ms. Helga Konrad, OSCE Special Representative on Trafficking in Human Beings and Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Trafficking in persons is a severe human rights abuse and a risk to security throughout the OSCE region. In spite of international efforts, human rights protection of trafficked persons has only improved marginally in the last few years. Trafficked persons are often not even identified and instead, many still face detention and expulsion.
The conference will take place at the House of the Estates, Snellmaninkatu 9-11, Helsinki, and is open to the media.
Plenary sessions of the conference will be simultaneously interpreted in English and Russian.
Further information:
Spokesperson Urdur Gunnarsdottir, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, tel. +48 22 520 0600
Director Johanna Suurpää, Unit for Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6551