Curbing Child Trafficking and Providing
Specific Witness Protection to Victims of Trafficking

At the 4^th REGIONAL MINISTERIAL FORUM of the Stability Pact Task Force on Human Trafficking in South Eastern Europe (SPTF) Ministers of the Interior and/or Ministers of Justice and State/country representatives of South Eastern Europe will sign a Statement on Commitments on Victim/Witness Protection and Trafficking in Children agreeing on concrete next steps in the fight against trafficking in children and minors based on the UNICEF Guidelines for Protection of the Rights of Children Victims of Trafficking in South Eastern Europe. Trafficking in children for sexual and other forms of exploitation is increasing at a shocking rate. Studies show that at least 30 percent of trafficking victims in South Eastern Europe are teenage-girls between 14 and 17 years of age.

In addition the Ministers and State/country representatives of SEE will agree on specific measures to protect witnesses who are victims of trafficking. It is well known that the safety of victims of human trafficking and their families are at risk after their rescue or escape. A lack of adequate victim and witness protection programmes results in reduced efficiency of investigation, prosecution and court proceedings. It sends the proper signal that the cooperation of trafficking victims who have the courage to help law enforcement is  sufficiently valued when their safety is made a priority.

Expected participants at the Press Conference include:

·         Ms Dr. Helga Konrad, Chair of the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings In SEE

·         Ambassador Janez Premoze, Chair of the Stability Pact Working Table III

·         Ministers/State/country representatives from South Eastern Europe

For further information, contact Ms Natascha Knecht, Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings at phone: +43-50-1150-3263