Counter-Trafficking
Austria and Neighbouring Countries - Preventing and Combating all Forms of Trafficking in Women
A regional initiative launched by the Austrian Federal Government Minister for Women and Public Administration, with the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip) in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Lisbon Treaty and the Stockholm Programme are expected to strongly influence future European Union policy to combat human trafficking. The prioritization of this issue is reinforced by the Justice and Home Affairs Council’s adoption of the 'Action Oriented Paper' on strengthening the EU external dimension on action against all forms of human trafficking by enhancing coordination and cooperation with third countries.
With a view to improving partnerships and structures, this regional initiative aims at advancing a coordinated and coherent policy response to trafficking in women for the purpose of all forms of exploitation, thereby contributing to and complementing the larger European effort conceptualized by the Lisbon Treaty.
A regional high-level ministerial round table discussion between
Emphasis will be given to the advancement of a methodology for putting in place an effective information collection/sharing system, to joint preventative measures, to the creation of an anti-trafficking index to allow for continuous situation assessments, and to the development of an early warning system as well as to the establishment of mechanisms for early victim identification.
Contacts:
Helga Konrad, Executive Director Anti-Trafficking, oiip: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Gerda Theuermann, Anti-Trafficking, oiip: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Eurídice Márquez, Counter-Trafficking Coordinator, IOM Vienna: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Panel Discussion: A Crime so Monstrous – Trafficking in Human Beings
IOM Vienna and the US Embassy Vienna jointly organized a panel discussion titled “A Crime so Monstrous – Trafficking in Human Beings”, which took place at Vienna’s “Amerika Haus” on 23 April 2010, from 14:00-15:30.
Trafficking in human beings (THB) has been characterized as a modern form of slavery and as such constitutes a serious violation of human rights. This crime affects men, women and children who are either trafficked across international borders or domestically and subsequently exploited for forced labour, sexual purposes, organ removal and/or domestic servitude.
The panel discussion was held in light of journalist E. Benjamin Skinner’s visit to Vienna. After meeting a former victim of THB, Mr. Skinner travelled the world to delve into the underworld of trafficking. His research and undercover work lead to the publication of his first book “A Crime So Monstrous. Face to Face with Modern-Day-Slavery”. It exposes modern day trafficking networks and slave quarries, urban child markets and illegal brothels. The book was awarded the 2009 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for nonfiction.
Mr. Skinner on the panel discussion was joined by Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, Austria’s first National Coordinator on Combating Human Trafficking from the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs; Maria-Grazia Giammarinaro, OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating THB; and Andreas Halbach, Head of Special Liaison Mission, International Organization for Migration in Austria.
Topics of the panel discussion focused on the current situation of THB, national strategies for combating this phenomenon, trans-Atlantic efforts to stem trafficking, and innovative methods of preventing trafficking.