General News: Event against human trafficking; Dep. FM statements

A special event aimed at raising public awareness on the problem of human trafficking was sponsored on Wednesday by the foreign ministry, the embassy of Canada and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The event centred on the award-winning Canadian film-documentary “Sex Slaves”, which records –through hidden cameras — the efforts by a Ukrainian man to rescue his wife, a victim of human trafficking.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis stressed that the goal set is to collect as many signatures as possible by well-known personalities in support of a declaration of principles against modern slavery.

Referring to the work performed by the Greek state, Kouvelis said the number of criminal charges filed in 2010 recorded a 65-pct increase, compared to 2009, while court-issued convictions rose 52 pct and assistance and protection provided to court identified victims increased 60 pct.