KYIV, 29 January
2001 -- The establishment of a network for the repatriation of victims
of human trafficking, as well as co-operation in the fight against
organized crime were discussed in Athens last week by representatives of
the Ukrainian Government and their Greek counterparts. The discussions
were part of a five-day study visit of Ukrainian officials, 22-26
January, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and the
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
The Ukrainian
delegation met with the Greek Ministers of Public Order, Labour, and
Justice, as well as representatives of other government agencies, and
discussed the necessity of establishing a network for the repatriation
of Ukrainian victims of trafficking.
Greece has
approximately 600 000 illegal immigrants, who after their detection are
deported back to their home countries. At present, there is no special
mechanism for differentiating between illegal immigrants and victims of
trafficking. It was one of the main tasks of the Ukrainian delegation,
as well as the representatives of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in
Ukraine and the IOM, to discuss with Greek authorities the importance of
such mechanisms.
If perceived as
victims of trafficking and organized criminal activity - and protected
as such - they can give testimonies against the traffickers. This would
be a big step forward in the prosecution of traffickers and in the fight
against this kind of organized crime.
The Greek and
Ukrainian sides agreed on the development of a mechanism for protecting
victims of trafficking and assisting in their repatriation, and
co-operation and co-ordination in the prosecution of traffickers.
A bilateral
agreement between these two states will be elaborated and signed in
April 2001 during the visit of the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Mr. Viktor
Juschchenko, in Athens.
One of the tasks of
the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine is to assist the Ukrainian
authorities in combating trafficking in human beings.
For more
information, please contact Ms. Cordula Wohlmuther, Project Officer,
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, 8/24 Dimitrivska St., 01054, Kyiv,
Ukraine, tel.: (+380-44) 219 16 87, fax: (+380-44) 246 88 26, e-mail:osce@osce.kiev.ua