Eva Biaudet, MP, appointed OSCE's Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
Press release 422/2006
19 October, 2006
Biaudet will represent the OSCE at the political level in questions related to the combat against trafficking in human beings. She will also assist OSCE participating states in the implementation of commitments and coordinate the OSCE's efforts in combating trafficking in human beings. The decision on the appointment was made by OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut together with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht.
The position of the Special Representative was established in 2003 to enhance and strengthen the OSCE's activities against trafficking in human beings which have in the recent years gained increasing importance. Biaudet succeeds Austrian Helga Conrad, the first Special Representative since 2003.
According to Tuomioja trafficking in human beings is a major human rights challenge both internationally and also domestically in Finland. Tuomioja said the Finnish Government was committed to the prevention of trafficking in human beings and to helping the victims of human trafficking. The governmental actions are guided by the National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Human Beings adopted by the Government in August 2005.
Foreign Minister Tuomioja emphasised that Finland seeks to strengthen the international cooperation against human trafficking also with the assistance of the OSCE. Finland will hold the Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2008.
Eva Biaudet has been a Member of the Finnish Parliament since 1991 representing the Swedish People's Party. She has been a cabinet member twice as Minister of Health and Social Services. She has also been a deputy member of the Finnish Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly since 2004.
Further information: Jouni Laaksonen, First Secretary, Unit for Human Rights Policy, tel. +358 9 1605 5323, and Ambassador Aleksi Härkönen, Finland's Permanent Mission to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, tel. +43 1 535 1034 72