Ways to emphasise the need of diminishing demand as an opportunity for preventing trafficking in human beings will be discussed at Wednesday's conference organised by the Swedish embassy and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with support provided by the Swedish Institute in partnership with the National Commission on the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration.

"Sweden together with Norway and Iceland is one of the few countries banning sexual services to be purchased and focuses on the buyer and the demand. Sweden's example has been deemed controversial and questionable, but it offers a chance for more discussions leading to progress. The example has been welcomed for promoting a balanced approach in the prevention of human trafficking, because it not only reinforces the work with potential victims, but it also focuses on potential customers, buyers and agents," said Suzana Zakovska - head of the IOM office.

She stated that human trafficking and prostitution were criminal phenomena requiring multi-institutional approach.

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Spiro Ristovski said that human rights were violated flagrantly with human trafficking and prostitution, thus a decisive action was necessary in preventing and eliminating them.

"Safety is one of the fundamental needs of the citizens in any state. Eliminating pre-conditions for crime is vital as well as the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration," Minister Ristovski noted.

Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska in her address said that Macedonia in the past decade in relation to human trafficking had been committed to finding and persecuting human traffickers and identifying and protecting victims, while conducting preventive activities aimed at reducing the number of future victims.

"MoI and the government are prepared with IOM and other international organisations to work together on this important segment of the combat against human trafficking in Macedonia," she concluded.

The conference aims at raising public awareness on the importance of curbing trafficking in human beings.