site.btaOSCE Special Representative: Bulgaria Is a Country of Origin of Human Trafficking

June 24 (BTA) - Valiant Richey, Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who is on a visit here, said on Thursday that Bulgaria is a country of origin of human trafficking, which means that a great number of people fall victim to this type of crime, including even trafficking in organs and newborns.

The aim of Richey's visit is to address human trafficking in ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors looking for asylum, and migrants transiting Bulgaria's territory.

According to Richey, an improvement in the overall economic situation will lead to a solution to the problem through strong political will and adequate resources in the fight against these crimes.

The OSCE representative also said that serious effort must be made to dispel the feeling of impunity, as two-thirds of offenders are discharged conditionally, and very few serve effective sentences. Richey said that statistics must be more comprehensive in order to see a clearer picture, and draw up better policies as a result.

Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov said that according to the Prosecutor' Office data for 2020, a total of 458 Bulgarians fell victim to human trafficking: 379 women, 61 men and 31 children. Over the same period 336 persons were sexually exploited, including three men and 24 children. The number of alerts meanwhile was under 100. There have been only six alerts so far in 2021.

Bulgaria remains a country of origin of human trafficking, and the reason for this is the low standard of living and poverty of some strata of the population, according to Rashkov. He added that the punishment for this type of crime is liberal at the moment, which negates its preventive effect. That is why he recommended more severe punishment.

Rashkov commented on the alerts of pressure being exerted on voters ahead of the early parliamentary elections on July 11. In his words, certain political powers are pressuring heads of big companies and people of different ethnicity.

He said that someone is trying to govern the State by distorting the will of the people. Some politicians' lust for power is making them break the law, and these processes will probably only worsen. Voting under pressure distorts the elections and allows into Parliament people who have not really garnered enough trust, the Minister said.

RI/MT
/МТ/