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CIVIL SOCIETY SUPPORTS OAS WORK AT MARGARITA MEETING

Representatives of civil society groups from more than ten countries in the region offered proposals on confronting the problem of human trafficking, during the first hemispheric meeting on the issue under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). The meeting is taking place in Venezuela this week.

The dialogue underway in Margarita Island, at the Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons, seeks to end exploitation and other trafficking-related crimes. Civil society representatives had prepared a document with recommendations for addressing the problem, which they presented to the national authorities to take into consideration when drafting the meeting’s official conclusions.

“The International Labor Organization regards forced labor and related human trafficking as a serious crime of global dimension, which must be addressed by all countries with utmost urgency,” said the Director of that organization, Armand F. Pereira.

This concern was reflected in the proposals prepared by civil society related to prevention, protection and assistance to victims, as well as regional and national cooperation among governments and nongovernmental organizations.

The document underscores the “fundamental importance” that in preventing, combating and repressing trafficking in persons, and in protecting victims, the member states take into account the legal framework of international and regional instruments related to human rights, international humanitarian law and the international rights of refugees.

The groups also urged the authorities to create a permanent working group at the OAS, made up of people knowledgeable on the issue of human trafficking within work areas related to human rights, immigration, women, labor issues and youth.

In addition, they requested the development of a regional action plan on the issue which would include “close collaboration” among the OAS member states, civil society organizations and international organizations.

The Director of the OAS Summits of the Americas Department, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, explained that one of the fundamental objectives of the meeting is “to exchange opinions, points of view and information” on the issue. “This exchange of ideas will enrich the deliberations of our national authorities and will be of greatest use when we proceed to adopt policies and undertake initiatives that will guide our collective actions on this issue,” Rodriguez added.

The Margarita meeting, which will be closed this Friday by OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, will develop recommendations for the next meeting of ministers of justice, scheduled to take place on April 24-26 in the Dominican Republic.

Reference: E-058/06