Minsk, 1 April 2005 - A joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union on combating trafficking in women in Belarus was presented today to Minsk-based foreign diplomats. The presentation was intended to familiarize the diplomatic corps with the achievements attained in almost two years by the project in tackling human trafficking Belarus.

Results of the project include a comprehensive analysis of legal documents and regulations, a hotline providing free information for people wishing to work abroad, a shelter for victims of trafficking, a series of video spots and a documentary about human trafficking and a series of seminars.

"This is a priority project for UNDP because of the acute problem it is trying to tackle" said Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti, Assistant UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus. “It is also an example of successful cooperation between the UNDP and the European Commission TACIS Office in Belarus" he said.

Government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, the media and international organizations have worked hand-in hand as part of the project.

The meeting was attended by representatives of more than 15 diplomatic missions based in Minsk.

"The fact that so many diplomats are attending this project presentation conference testifies to the importance of the human trafficking problem for many countries," said Ms. Irina Chutkova, National Coordinator of the Project, Head of the Department of Population, Gender and Family Policy of the Ministry of Labour and Welfare. "This problem has become visible to society in Belarus in the short period that the project has been running."

The joint UNDP/EU project, ‘Combating Trafficking in Women in the Republic of Belarus’, has been carried out since June 2003. The project, estimated at ?900,000, will last until end of 2005 It is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security with the support of the UNDP Office in Belarus.

For further information please contact the manager of the "Combating Trafficking in Women in the Republic of Belarus project, Yury Fyodorov, or Project Manager Assistant Marina Stepanova at telephone number 222-49-37.

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