Yerevan, May 9, Noyan Tapan. Anti-Trafficking Help and Resource Center for was opened in Yerevan on May 7. The Help Center established by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is aimed at improved protection of trafficked victims. The OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Eva Biaudet took part in the opening ceremony. The purpose of the program , supported by Sweden, France, Germany and the U.S, is to help anti-trafficking structures in establishing effective mechanism to protect trafficking victims. The Center plans to offer trainings for public organizations, social services, legislative bodies, and carry out awareness raising campaigns, since public awareness of the problem contributes to its further prevention. The center will also prepare quarterly researches on relevance of Armenia?s international obligations to local legislature. According to Eva Biaudet, there are many forms of human trafficking and people exploitation, which, for instance, can be organized even inside the country. Speaking about all possible forms of people trading, she emphasized the need of all-inclusive approach in combating this negative social phenomenon. She added, that 80 per cent of trafficking victims are women. According to expert estimations, the data on trafficking victims in Armenia is not accurate yet. According to information obtained by non-governmental organizations, the number of detected crimes in human trafficking was 8 in 2008 and 4 in 2007 in Armenia. Memorandum of Understanding on establishing Anti-Trafficking Help and Resource Center was signed on November 4 last year. Anti-trafficking program will have been fulfilled by August 2010. Upon completion of the program the Help Center for Trafficking Victims will be integrated into the Ministry for Labor and Social affairs of Armenia. The purpose of the visit of Eva Biaudet , who met with a number of country?s high-ranking officials between May 6 and 8, was is to deepen cooperation of the Armenian anti-trafficking players with the OSCE, determine spheres where the OSCE support and expertise can be of use. The OSCE Office in Yerevan, in collaboration with other international organizations in Armenia, assists the Armenian Government in its efforts to combat human trafficking, developing anti-trafficking policies and mechanisms to protect and assist victims. The Office's activities are currently focused on supporting a national referral mechanism development and improving anti-trafficking training for Armenia's law enforcement bodies.

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