OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL

UNCLAS STATE 126211 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KTIP OSCE SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE BIAUDET ¶1. (U) Post is authorized to make the following statement at the December 10, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna: Begin text: Thank you, Madam Chair. It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Permanent Council today, Special Representative Biaudet. Your report bears witness to the excellent work you and your staff have done over the last three years, and highlights the ongoing importance of OSCE efforts to combat trafficking in human beings. The United States attaches a high priority to preventing trafficking in all its forms, identifying and assisting victims, and to effectively prosecuting traffickers. Your office plays an important role in this regard, and we commend your efforts to help participating States meet OSCE anti-trafficking commitments and implement relevant Action Plan recommendations. We particularly appreciate your country assessments, and hope this work will continue and that participating States will utilize this information to deepen implementation of anti-trafficking commitments. We recognize your office's valuable work with governments, including assistance in policy work and setting up national strategies, as well as the conferences and technical seminars throughout the year. We also appreciate the extent to which your office coordinates with other OSCE bodies: the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE field missions, and other offices and units in the OSCE Secretariat. We commend your efforts to coordinate your activities with other multilateral organizations, and hope that your successor will continue this emphasis on synergies without duplication. We look forward to the further development of an integrated approach to preventing and combating trafficking in human beings across the OSCE region. Special Representative Biaudet, thank you for the dedication and passion you have demonstrated over the last three years to working with governments to help put an end to human trafficking. We wish you all the best. Thank you, Madam Chair. END TEXT CLINTON