Vienna, 11 December 2003

The United Nations Information Service invites you to a

Press Briefing

on

Combating Human Trafficking in
South Eastern Europe

on
Tuesday, 16 December 2003, at 10.30 hours

at the

Vienna International Centre (VIC)
Press Briefing Room C03

Strategies to curb human trafficking in South Eastern Europe are being discussed at a meeting of senior government officials from 13 countries in Vienna from 15-16 December.  Trafficking from, to and through the region is taking place primarily for the purpose of sexual exploitation with women and children the main victims. The meeting has been jointly convened by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Romania, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). A comprehensive law enforcement training strategy for police and special anti-trafficking investigators will be launched at the meeting.

Speakers:

Dan Fatuloiu from the National Police of Romania,

Coordinator of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) Task Force on trafficking in human beings

Paul Holmes, International consultant,

Former UK police officer involved in combating human trafficking

Kristiina Kangaspunta, Programme Officer,

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Anti-human Trafficking Unit

 * * *

Representatives of the media and NGOs are welcome to attend the press briefing.

For further information about the press briefing contact:

Anne Thomas, Information Officer, UNIS

Tel.: + 43 1 260 60 – 4058

Email: anne.thomas@unvienna.org

Please present this invitation along with a valid identification document
 upon entrance to the Vienna International Centre (VIC)