Round Table Conference on The Human Trafficking As A Challenge to Society

The human trafficking is one of the most serious problems of our modern times. It is not only a profitable criminal business but it has a detrimental social influence, outlined the importance of the round table Conference on the Human Traffic – A Challenge to Society Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE. The event was a closing Conference of the project on the Social-Economic Aspects of Human Trafficking. It was organized by the National and Regional Security Department and the Center for Strategic Researches in Defence and Security at the UNWE. At the opening of the Forum at the Large Conference Hall attended Her Excellency Guro Katharina Vikor, ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Bulgaria, Biser Kirilov, Deputy Prosecutor of Sofia, Kristen Scholtz from the US embassy in our country, Krasimir Hristov, Director of AICHHORN & CO.GES.M.B.H, Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice–Rector on Scientific Research Activity, Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Hristo Parvanov, Dean of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty, lecturers and students from the university. The round table Conference was also devoted to October, 18^th - the European Day for Fight against Human Trafficking. Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Head of the National and Regional Security Department opened the Forum and presented the participants and the guests.

(From the right to the left) Prof. Stefanov, Prof. Statty Stattev, Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Her Excellency Guro Katharina Vikor

The Conference is part of the university efforts to support the solvation of the issue and to be presented the results of the research activity on the project which has been elaborated by a large team from the Department, the Center and some other scientific organizations and state institutions over the period 2009-2011, pointed out Prof. Statev. Because UNWE is №1 among the universities in our country?, emphasized by a question the Rector. Firstly, because there aren`t any people by chance at the university and secondly, because our lecturers are professionals in the science, strongly engaged in the practice too, specified Prof. Stattev and pointed out as an example the research activity of scientists from the National and Regional Security Department. “A proud for our university”, that`s how the Rector called the success of our academic community.

Although the UNWE has a strong presence in the European educational chart, there hasn`t been any collaboration with Norwegian universities so far, said also Prof. Stattev and pointed out that in the conversations with the new ambassador of Norway in Bulgaria have been traced tangible opportunities about that. 

Participants in the Conference

The human trafficking is a cruel form of violence, defined Her Excellency Guro Katharina Vikor who pointed out some examples of the fight against prostitution and criminal business in Norway. She spoke about the collaboration with Bulgaria in that field, the legislation, etc. On behalf of Rumen Petkov, Chairman of the General Assembly of the International Institute for Security and Cooperation a greeting speech to the organizers and participants in the Conference was exposed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamen Petkov, lecturer at the UNWE and Executive Director of the International Institute for Security and Cooperation. Biser Kirilov, Deputy Prosecutor of Sofia defined the human trafficking as “slavery”. “Modern slavery”, said also in his presentation Kristen Scholtz, Secretary on the Human Rights Issues at the US embassy in our country. Statements were also made by Lieutenant-General Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stoyan Andreev and Krasimir Hristov, Director of AICHHORN & CO.GES.M.B.H.

Our country is among the five states having the largest human trafficking, pointed out Prof. Dr. Stefan Hristov, Head of the project and Director of the Center for Strategic Researches in Defence and Security. The main reasons for that “leadership” according to him were the geographic location of our country and the poverty of considerable part of the population. The human trafficking is an identical with the human trade and it concerns mostly the age group of 16-24 years. Prof. Hristov presented the results of the research work from the project on the Social-Economic Aspects of Human Trafficking and pointed out that for three years 48 students from the Department have participated in the implementation of the project with their own written elaborations on the issue. There were issued also three volumes of research works drawing the line between the different aspects of the world problem and the situation in Bulgaria.  

The young researchers spoke on the issue.

By discussions were outlined the directions and particular steps for fight against the human trafficking at international, national and regional level.