OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL

UNCLAS STATE 070241 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE BIAUDET ¶1. (U) Post is authorized to make the following statement at the July 9, 2009, Permanent Council meeting in Vienna: Begin Text: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. It is a pleasure to welcome Special Representative Biaudet to the Permanent Council today. We appreciate her presentation on her priorities for 2010, and look forward to the Office,s continued work to combat trafficking in human beings across the OSCE region. Efforts to prevent human trafficking and to accurately identify and appropriately assist victims of trafficking remain high priorities for the United States, as do national and international efforts to effectively prosecute traffickers. We believe the Office of the Special Representative plays an important role in the fight against human trafficking. We particularly commend its work to help participating States establish national rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms, and to strengthen national monitoring and reporting efforts across the region. Additionally, we welcome the planned survey to assess the progress made in the OSCE region towards preventing trafficking in human beings. This survey, combined with the Office,s country assessments, will assist countries in identifying specific areas where the implementation of OSCE anti-trafficking commitments can be strengthened. We very much welcome the concrete actions of the Office of the Special Representative, and hope the Office will continue efforts to find greater efficiencies in its work. We look forward to the further development of an integrated approach to preventing and combating trafficking in human beings as well as assisting victims across the OSCE region. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. CLINTON