DESPITE SIGNIFICANT steps forward in the battle against trafficking in persons, the government could not remain complacent as there was still much to be done to “stamp out this crime”, said Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis yesterday.

Sylikiotis acknowledged that the battle against trafficking was far from over. “Despite the successes achieved in the last two years towards addressing the problem of trafficking in persons, we have not reached the end of the road, we have not yet managed to eradicate, stamp out this crime, which is why we will not remain complacent,” he said.

Speaking after a meeting of the Multidisciplinary Coordinating Group, responsible for human trafficking issues, Sylikiotis said the decision was taken to set up kiosks in all towns, distribute information pamphlets and hand out emergency cards at the island’s airports to raise awareness of the problems of trafficking in persons.

The group examined implementation of the National Action Plan for 2010 to 2012, approved by cabinet last April. During the meeting chaired by the minister, the group discussed the holding of an annual event on trafficking to mark European Day against Trafficking in Persons on October 18.

The decision was taken to set up kiosks in key points in all towns to distribute pamphlets raising awareness among the Cypriot public and foreign residents on the phenomenon of trafficking in persons.

“We also decided to issue cards with a telephone number that will operate on a 24-hour basis, as a first point of contact for information on people trafficking issues,” he said, adding the card “will be distributed at airports to foreign visitors”.

The minister noted that Cyprus was working towards reaching agreement on setting up an office of the International Organisation for Migration in Cyprus, dealing generally with issues of migration, and the return of victims to their homes.

Sylikiotis said the national action plan “contains realistic targets covering all aspects of the problem as well as specific actions that should be accomplished within specific timetables”. He added: “It is a useful and practical tool in our efforts to combat this heinous transnational organised crime which brutally offends human dignity.”

The new three-year plan “addresses issues of coordination, awareness-raising, prevention, victim detection and identification, victim protection and support, control and prosecution, data collection, training, international cooperation and evaluation”.

He argued that the government works beyond the action plan in its efforts to tackle trafficking in persons, which mainly comes in the form of sexual and labour exploitation. Sylikiotis referred specifically to “steps taken to modernise our legislation so as to be fully harmonised with European directives and international conventions, the ratification of Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Persons, the creation of a government-run shelter for victims, revision of the policy governing the entry and employment of foreign artistes and foreign domestic workers in Cyprus, and actions undertaken within the EU to promote and strengthen EU cooperation with third countries of origin.”

He added that “the significant steps we have taken over the past two years in the right direction have been recognised internationally and have led to Cyprus’ removal from the black list in which it was included”.

The minister argued this progress was reflected in the relevant European Commission working documents and most recently in a letter sent by the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, following his visit to Cyprus on June 10.

In the letter Hammarberg welcomed the “progressive measures” taken to combat trafficking in human beings, in particular the abolition of the “cabaret artist visa”, but added it was crucial for Cyprus to “step up efforts to eradicate this scourge totally”.

The Commissioner expressed concern that other types of work permits, such as the one for bar maids, might be used to circumvent the law.

“This illustrates the need to be vigilant against organised crime and ensure that no type of visa or working permit can be abused for such unlawful purposes as trafficking in human beings,” said Hammarberg.

Sylikiotis agreed with Hammarberg “that we must be vigilant to prevent the possible misuse of use of visas or employment permits for illegal purposes, and also we should intensify our cooperation with international bodies and other countries with experience in eradicating the link between demand for sex and trafficking in persons.”

The multidisciplinary coordinating group includes officials from the Interior Ministry which is the national coordinator, and relevant state services such as the Legal Service, Justice Ministry, police, Foreign Ministry, Labour Department, Social Welfare Services, Health Ministry, Education Ministry, Migration Department, Asylum Service, National Body for the Rights of Women, as well as two non-governmental organisations (Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies and STIGMA).