ARMENIA STEPS UP COUNTER-TRAFFICKING PLAN

Middle East Times
a_steps_up_counter-trafficking_plan/642f/
May 8 2009
Egypt

YEREVAN, Armenia, May 8 (UPI) — Armenian officials announced a
new effort Friday to combat human trafficking with support from the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Armenia and the OSCE marked the new counter-human-trafficking
initiative Friday with the opening of the Anti-Trafficking Support
and Resource Unit in the country, the OSCE reported.

Eva Biaudet, OSCE special representative, traveled to Armenia
to recognize Armenian authorities’ efforts to combat human
trafficking. Biaudet said the Anti-Trafficking Support and Resource
Unit is a positive step but called on leaders in Armenia to stand
by the new commitment with resources to strengthen investigation
capabilities.

"Enhanced cooperation between (non-governmental organizations)
providing assistance to victims and law-enforcement agencies is a
prerequisite for better victim identification, and I urge the Armenian
authorities to put more effort into also investigating possible cases
of internal trafficking among vulnerable populations," Biaudet said
in a statement.