UN envoy in Kosovo signs regional statement against human trafficking

A senior United Nations envoy in Kosovo joined the countries of South-Eastern Europe today in signing an agreement affirming their commitment to protect the rights and dignity of the victims and witnesses of human and child trafficking during a ministerial meeting in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

Jean-Christian Cady, the Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Secretary-General in Kosovo (Police and Justice), signed a statement against human trafficking at the 4th Regional Ministerial Forum of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings.

Mr. Cady told the forum that “contrary to what is sometimes said, Kosovo is not a safe haven for organized crime and terrorism…Not only has the overall crime level (in Kosovo) decreased by 70 per cent in the last two years, but it is now consistent with crime levels in many Western countries.”

According to a statement issued by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr. Cady added that a coordinated approach among the countries of South-Eastern Europe would result in a more efficient strategy against organized crime.