22 October 2003
U.S., Norway Committed to Preventing Trafficking by Peacekeepers
Joint statement by ambassadors to NATO Nicholas Burns and Kai Eide
"The United States and Norway advocate that nations take steps -- including reviewing national pre-deployment training -- to ensure that their peacekeepers in NATO-led operations do not contribute to the problem of trafficked women," said U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns and Norwegian Ambassador to NATO Kai Eide.
In a joint statement released October 22, Burns and Eide said NATO allied and partner countries had launched a discussion of trafficking, particularly of women, in the Balkans, a problem they said "undermines ongoing, significant efforts to bring stability to Southeast Europe."
They also noted their respective countries' guidelines on the issue.
Following is the joint statement:
(begin text)
U.S. Mission to NATO
October 22, 2003
JOINT STATEMENT BY U.S. AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS BURNS AND NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR KAI EIDE
NATO Allied and Partner countries today launched a discussion about the problem of human trafficking, particularly of women, in the Balkans and the steps NATO could take to help combat this terrible problem. Trafficking in persons in the Balkans undermines ongoing, significant efforts to bring stability to Southeast Europe.
The United States and Norway take this issue very seriously, and are committed to eradicating the problem. A U.S. National Security Presidential Directive reaffirms our commitment to combating such trafficking and to a zero tolerance policy for all U.S. military personnel, including peacekeeping troops in the Balkans. Norway recently adopted a Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women and Children, as well as Ethical Guidelines for Government Employees prohibiting the purchase and acceptance of sexual services.
The steps announced by the U.S. and Norway represent our strong commitment to ending the enslavement of humans, especially in the Balkans. The United States and Norway advocate that nations take steps -- including reviewing national pre-deployment training -- to ensure that their peacekeepers in NATO-led operations do not contribute to the problem of trafficked women.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=October&x=20031022155437samohtj0.7930414&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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