Mariya Gabriel: Cooperation at national and international level will contribute to good practices and sustainable solutions in the fight against trafficking in human beings
26 January 2024 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel hosted a National Conference ‘Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings: good practices and sustainable solutions’. The opening was attended by the Minister of the Interior Kalin Stoyanov and the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Diane Schmitt. The aim of the conference was to show that Bulgaria contributes significantly and decisively in the fight against Trafficking in Human Beings.
‘Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime against the person. It deprives people of their rights, dignity and independence. This is a crime that affects millions of people around the world. Trafficking in Human Beings is also a business with human lives, which is subject to market principles of supply and demand. This means that the demand for the services provided by victims must be limited. It is important to work to eradicate the root causes of this crime — poverty and poor living conditions, unemployment, military conflicts and instability, low level of education’, the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Mariya Gabriel highlighted the achievements of the past months, including the 194% increase in the budget of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB) for actions to combat trafficking in human beings and support victims. It was also the first time that an annual programme with clear strategic objectives, budget and timelines was established. The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the actions taken to intensify cooperation with international partners, including the US State Department and the OSCE.
Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cindy Dyer, Ambassador-at-Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of State, and Dr. Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Persons, expressed their gratitude for Mariya Gabriel's strong leadership as Chair of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson congratulated Bulgaria for joining Schengen and highlighted Bulgaria's contribution to new EU rules to prevent trafficking in human beings. ‘I thank Bulgaria and Mariya Gabriel personally for supporting this to happen’, Commissioner Johansson underlined.
Cindy Dyer expressed support for the Bulgarian government's efforts to prioritize the fight against trafficking in human beings through training of police officers and cooperation with civil society. ‘We support Mariya Gabriel's leadership in preventing trafficking in human beings, protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators,’ she said.
Kari Johnstone congratulated Bulgaria for being among the first countries with an established and developed legislative policy and institutional framework to combat trafficking in human beings. As a positive example, she pointed to the close cooperation with civil society organisations as trusted partners in the implementation of the national mechanism for referral and support of victims of trafficking.
Within the framework of the conference, a Cooperation and Financial Support Agreement was signed between the international NGO International Justice Mission (IJM) and the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Part of the activities envisaged in the programme are specialised training and mentoring for law enforcement agencies, ensuring continuous care for victims through the provision of social and legal assistance, exchange of expertise and good practices between Bulgarian law enforcement agencies and their counterparts from other countries.
‘The creation of a coalition of local and international partners will help to share resources, identify challenges and respond adequately. Today's conference is a common effort to take the next step forward — to look for answers to the challenges, to outline a strategic vision of what our goals and priorities are, to take measures to find sustainable solutions’, Mariya Gabriel concluded.
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