On October 13, Ashot Hovakimian, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, received Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, who was in Armenia on a monitoring visit from October 10-14 within the framework of her mandate.

In the course of visit, the OSCE Special Representative had a meeting with the representatives of the state agencies of Armenia, international and civil society organizations working on the field, visited the shelter for the victims of trafficking of human beings and the reception center for the Syrian refugees.

The meeting with the Deputy Minister preceded the meeting of the members of the delegation with the inter-ministerial working group on combating trafficking and exploitation in human beings in Armenia, the activities of which are coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

During the meeting the OSCE special representative commended Armenia’s achievements in the fight against the trafficking and exploitation of people, as well as briefed on the problems and challenges disclosed during the meetings.

Welcoming the guest, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted, that the Armenian leadership attaches a great importance to the total protection of rights of people fallen victim to the crime of trafficking and to the provision of possible broad support without preconditions.

He touched upon the activities conducted in this direction in Armenia, outlining the importance of actions implemented within the framework of international obligations.