| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this handbook is to raise awareness of how host states can regulate and monitor the employment conditions of private domestic workers in diplomatic households. It highlights how protocol departments and similar authorities can prevent exploitation or abuse and what can be done if it occurs. Finding effective responses is a challenge for many countries. Switzerland, like Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States and other host states of international organizations and foreign missions, started to introduce preventive measures some time ago. The need to prevent and respond to employment disputes and to address grievances of private domestic workers, however, has been recognized in other countries too. Indeed, this is an issue which can be much better addressed together and which should be a priority for the international community. It is time to respond to this challenge, to strengthen the reputation of the international community in this respect, and to promote shared values across the OSCE region.
In June 2012, the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings took the lead and launched a workshop in Geneva, followed up by meetings in Kyiv, The Hague and Brussels. This handbook is an outcome of these workshops, where heads of protocol and protocol officers from 43 OSCE participating States, academics and members of non-governmental organizations shared their experiences. They identified relevant prevention and protection measures and discussed new trends, challenges and obstacles, and how to overcome them.
I commend the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for
Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for its leadership and for the creation of a
community of practice for officers from protocol departments. I thank Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States for their strong support and the International Labour Organization for its kind contribution. I also thank all participants of the workshops who have asked for this handbook and would like to continue their engagement.
I am convinced that our combined expertise and political will can improve the situation of private domestic workers across the OSCE region. We will not stop until we end exploitation and abuse in all forms. It is not an easy task. This handbook will serve as a reference for authorities and practitioners and provide guidance on what we all can do to prevent domestic servitude and respond to situations of exploitation. I thank you for joining forces in the fight against abuse, servitude and trafficking.
Didier Burkhalter | en_US |
