122nd ASSEMBLY OF THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION AND RELATED MEETINGS

Bangkok, 27 March – 1^st April 2010

Standing Committee on Peace and International Security

Cooperation and shared responsibility in the global fight against organized crime, in particular drug trafficking, illegal arms sales,

human trafficking and cross-border terrorism

                                                                            Senator Marian Iulian RASALIU

                                                                              Romanian IPU Group

Mr. Chairman,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me, first and foremost, to thank our distinguished colleague Mr. Apiwan Wiriyachai and the other representatives of the Thai Parliament for their warm welcome and hospitality.  

I would also like to commend the rapporteurs for their excellent work. The documents before us propose a general framework of action for a meaningful parliamentary input to efforts against organized crime.

It is of course incumbent upon us to tailor specific measures according with the situation and challenges in our respective countries and regions.

One recommendation to which we have already responded is the setting up of a parliamentary specialised mechanism to deal with human trafficking. Our Parliamentary Group Trafficking of Women and Children was created one year ago in the Parliament of Romania, as subsidiary body of the Joint Committee for European Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate.

There are two aspects I should mention in relation to this Group.

Firstly, that it was set up at the suggestion and on the model of the British All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trafficking of Women and Children, with which it cooperates closely.

Secondly, that its initial membership – of 4 parliamentarians – was recently expanded with     12 associate members, senators and deputies, representing both genders, various standing committees and all political parties. In doing so, we try to build up a comprehensive parliamentary approach to human trafficking.

Dear colleagues,

In all our countries, we have put in place legal frameworks to prevent and combat organized crime. But legislation needs constant updating and improving so as to keep the pace with a phenomenon increasingly diversified and multidimensional in nature.

I take this opportunity to inform you that we have revised recently the Romanian Law for the prevention of and fight against trafficking in human beings. The revision was mainly meant to:    

-  better define the notion of “victim of human trafficking”;

-  criminalize the recruitment, transportation, transfer, accommodation and hosting of a person with the purpose to remove tissues or cells of human origin; 

-  develop human trafficking data bases;

-  enhance the responsibilities of the Ministry of Education in terms of prevention;

-  better protect NGOs members who assist victims;

-  improve the protection and social assistance for minors and women, according to their specific needs;

-  develop nation-wide assistance structures and services for adult victims;

-  increase assistance to victims in a residential system.    

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Romanian IPU Group put forward some proposals to complement the draft resolution.

I would like to draw your attention on those related to the newly established review mechanism under the UN Convention against Corruption, and to the prospects of a future review mechanism under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

In my view, an important means to enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary action in these areas is to follow closely, through our specialized bodies, the evolution and results of such monitoring processes, which require a serious commitment by Governments, adequate resources and expertise, and the participation of all relevant stakeholders.

Thank you very much for your attention.