EuropaWorld 1/12/2000 Britain Helps Secure Measures to Control Arms and Combat Human Trafficking

Last week in Vienna saw the conclusion of the Ministerial Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), during the course of which the British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, proposed an Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) fund for projects to tackle the modern slavery of human trafficking. He followed this up with a pledge of £200,000 towards the fund. "Respect for human rights and democratic values are the best guarantee against future instability and conflict," argued Mr Cook.

At last year's OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Istanbul it was agreed that the OSCE would work against all forms of human trafficking. In this year's Vienna meeting ministers agreed proposals to enhance these efforts. The initiative will ensure effective cross border measures and will provide for the training of staff in OSCE member states. Projects to combat trafficking will also include awareness raising, human rights training and help with adaptation of local legislation.

The meeting also approved the text of documents aimed at preventing the flow of arms to areas of conflict and to round up arms following conflict resolution. Britain played a key role in preparing this text, said Mr Cook. He hoped the OSCE proposals would ensure that Europe played a leading role at next year's United Nations Conference on Small Arms.

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