OSCE Office Organizes Workshop on Combating Trafficking in Armenia

OSCE OFFICE ORGANIZES WORKSHOP ON COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
17:41 20/10/06

Developing and implementing a national strategy and action plan to
combat trafficking in human beings and best practices in the field
were discussed at a workshop that ended in Yerevan today.

The two-day event, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, brought
together Government officials and representatives of international
and non-governmental organizations.

The event followed a trafficking responses assessment initiated by
the OSCE Office between 9 and 20 October.

Experts Hana Snajdrova from the Czech Interior Ministry and Barbara
Sidoti, formerly with the International Centre for Migration Policy
Development – were invited to assess the Armenian trafficking responses
and conduct the workshop.

"A national strategy is an important tool which can help strengthen
the capacity of the State and society to combat human trafficking,"
said Barbara Sidoti. "In order to be effective, the strategy has to
involve both State institutions and civil society. Serious efforts are
required from the side of the Government to co-ordinate the process
and support it by allocating the necessary resources." Participants
discussed how a national strategy can lead to an effective plan of
action and highlighted the importance of progress indicators and
monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for periodical revisions of the
strategy and the action plan. The Armenian national strategy to combat
trafficking in human beings expires in December, and the authorities
are working on the next plan for 2007-2009.