Ministerial level Open Debate in Security Council

Trafficking in persons in conflict situations: forced labour, slavery and other similar practices

CZECH REPUBLIC

Statement by

H.E. Mr. Jan Chvojka

Minister for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation

Dear excellencies,

ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank to the United Kingdom presidency for organizing open debate. Human trafficking remains one of the most common violations of human rights worldwide. Unfortunately, the Czech Republic is no exception.

We are a target and transit country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and for men and women subjected to forced labour. According to our annual Trafficking in Human Beings Report, fifty victims of human trafficking were identified in the Czech Republic, mainly from Ukraine, Nigeria, Romania or Hungary.

In 2016 the Czech Government adopted a new National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings. The Strategy emphasizes the role of coordinated approach in prosecuting human trafficking and pays increased attention to the assistance of victims. The priorities of the Strategy is the prevention of forced labour and trafficking in children. Gender equality and respect for special needs of more vulnerable victims are the horizontal principles of the new Strategy.

The main framework for practical assistance to victims represents the governmental Programme on Support and Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. Annually, more than 50 victims of different forms of human trafficking enter the programme. The programme represents a very effective tool of victims support and very often leads to increased chances of successful prosecution of perpetrators.

To keep the Programme functional, it is important to apply wider preventive and educational measures. Every year the Czech Government provides financial resources to non-governmental organizations focusing on preventive and informative activities on human trafficking. One of such preventive activities is social counselling aimed at potential victims of trafficking provided through low-threshold counselling centers provided by specialized non-governmental organizations.

Dear excellencies,

ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank for the opportunity to discuss this crucial issue. We need to send clear message to all of the victims of human trafficking. We insist on your dignity and human rights and we are ready to use every chance to finally make human trafficking past.