VIENNA: REPORT ON PEOPLE TRAFFICKING PRESENTED

VIENNA, Dec 11 (Hina) - Trafficking in humans in South-East Europe is on the rise despite efforts by regional governments, police forces and humanitarian organisations to curb it, reads a report on people trafficking in South-East Europe, prepared by the agencies of the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and presented in Vienna on Thursday. #L# The situation regarding trafficking in humans in South-East Europe is improving with the introduction of institutional structures and measures, but it cannot be said that this is becoming less serious, Helga Konrad, chairwoman of the Stability Pact's table on the prevention of people trafficking, told reporters in Vienna. The author of the report, Barbara Limanowska, told reporters that Croatia had made major progress not only by preventing this form of trafficking but also by adopting a more serious approach to the preparation of structural measures in case the problem grew more serious. Croatia's Ambassador to the OSCE, Vladimir Matek, told reporters the report showed beyond any doubt that Croatia had done more to prevent trafficking in humans than other countries covered by it. Therefore no major objections were addressed to Croatia, and recommendations that were given referred mostly to the need to improve prevention, Matek said at the OSCE's Permanent Council in Vienna. (hina) rml sb