Spindelegger: “The struggle against trafficking in human beings needs concerted activity by the entire government”

Vienna, 20 March 2012 – “Trafficking in human beings is a violation of the most fundamental human rights. Many countries around the world are affected by human trafficking. We are making a tangible contribution to the fight against this terrible crime with the adoption of the third National Action Plan”, Austrian Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said in the Council of Ministers on presenting the third National Action Plan on trafficking in human beings for the years 2012-2014. The Second Austrian Report on Combating Human Trafficking for the period 2009-2012 and the Report of the Working Group on Child Trafficking were also presented to the Austrian government.

The Third Action Plan compiled by the Austrian Human Trafficking Task Force comprises tangible plans for implementation in prevention, victim support, criminal prosecution and international and national cooperation. “The main objective is to increase and improve the protection extended to victims, above all women and children, and to fight the structures of organised crime behind this trafficking”, Spindelegger said.

The National Action Plan is carried out in close co-operation with the civil society. The intra-Austrian "Task Force Human Trafficking" under the direction of the Foreign Ministry and national coordinator Ambassador Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger plays an important role in this task as a "network tool" between government ministries, federal provinces and NGOs.

Austria provides support for potential victims of human trafficking starting in their countries of origin within the scope of Austrian Development Agency work, through projects run by international organisations (IOM and UNODC) in West Africa and South Eastern Europe. In addition, the Austrian representations are called upon to establish active preventive measures against human trafficking, in particular in countries with a high level of risk. The fight against trafficking in children is also a focus of work for the current Austrian membership of UN Human Rights Council. Together with other states, Austria is establishing activities to protect children from exploitation and slavery.

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