Lithuania
The regional event for Vilnius took place on 25 - 26 October 2007.
Its focus will be on Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings: Challenges and Solutions.
The main organizers of the concerence are the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, OSCE and UNODC.
The conference "Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings: Challenges and Solutions" aims to link common strategies between origin, transit and destination countries.
Organized within the framework of the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT), the event will emphasize the role of the media in preventing modern slavery and encourage other non-traditional stakeholders - the business community and educational institutions - to join efforts to create a better and safer social environment for men, women and children in their countries.
Conference participants will discuss, among other issues, the difficulties and ethical considerations of the media when reporting and investigating human trafficking cases. Journalists from Cyprus, France and Great Britain who have conducted groundbreaking investigations into human trafficking will present their work, giving participants the opportunity to analyse the latest findings from investigative human trafficking reporting.
The conference will take place on 25 and 26 October 2007 at the Reval Hotel Lietuva Conference Centre (Konstitucijos av. 20) Vilnius, Lithuania.
Background
The conference will focus on the prevention of human trafficking, and the challenges and solutions that can be achieved through regional co-operation. It will raise issues beyond those traditionally discussed in the Baltic region to promote co-operation among the main countries of origin, transit and destination in combating trafficking in human beings.
The event will emphasize the media's role in preventing modern slavery and encourage other groups, namely the business community and educational institutions, to join efforts in creating a safer environment for men, women and children in their countries.
High-level governmental officials and national experts, journalists and editors, professors and researchers, as well as private sector representatives are invited to share their experiences and visions of the most effective solutions to the challenges of prevention. Representation from a broad range of OSCE participating States (especially from the Baltic and Nordic regions, and neighbouring countries), OSCE Partners for Co-operation and non-governmental organizations promises a successful outcome.
The event provides a forum to exchange best practice, discuss existing gaps and help elaborate common strategies among States linked together as countries of origin and destination.
Press
The conference is open to the media. While media representatives are not required to register in advance, they are asked to bring their press passes for registration at the conference venue. Upon registration, they will receive press kits containing background information on the Office of the Special Representative, the meeting and keynote speakers.
A press conference is scheduled on Thursday (25 October 2007) from 10:30 to 11:15.
Interviews will be arranged ad hoc during both days.
Briefings and press releases summarizing key statements and discussion topics will be available throughout the meeting.
For more information or to request an interview with OSCE officials or conference participants, please contact:
Ms. Blanca Tapia
Public Information Officer
Tel: +43 1 51436 921 (office)
Tel: +43 664 859 08 04 (mobile)
Draft Agenda (pdf)
Technical Note (pdf)
Press Release: OSCE conference in Vilnius calls for zero tolerance, more co-operation to fight human trafficking