Welcome and opening was done by Lenka Ptáčková Melicharová - Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic, Jakub Boratynski – Head of Unit on the Fight against Organized Crime, European Commission Directorate for Security, Eva Biaudet - OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Marta Requena - Council of Europe, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

   

The aim of the conference is to build and maintain effective and efficient cross border cooperation and information exchange regarding the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings on the EU level, through enhancement of the role of National Rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms within 27 Member States. The conference is being organized in response to urgent calls for establishing National Rapporteurs and equivalent mechanism and aims to promote stronger working relations of existing National Rapporteurs and equivalent mechanisms within the EU.

   

On the basis of the responses received for the distributed questionnaire, a map of contacts for National Rapporteurs will be delivered during the conference. The map shall provide other basic information on the national institutions responsible for monitoring and reporting the situation and other issues in the field of combating trafficking in human beings. The replies assist to provide details on existing roles and tasks of National Rapporteurs, common standards, and introduce the spectra of possible activities of the National Rapporteurs institute. 
  
 
Markéta Matlochová
Spokesperson for Czech Presidenty of the EU, Ministry of the Interior