Press release, 8 October 2015
Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, and Queen Silvia of Sweden during her official visit to Lithuania welcomed the participants in the round-table discussion United in the Fight against Human Trafficking and shared their insights.
In her welcome address, the Speaker stressed that this discussion in the Seimas would make it possible to assess how Lithuania fulfilled its commitments, what good practices of foreign countries could be adopted in Lithuania, and the challenges we faced, especially in view of the current geopolitical context.
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Photo of the Seimas Office (author Olga Posaškova) |
Unfortunately, trafficking in human beings, slavery, is a reality in the 21st century. Its scale is enormous. It is a painful fact that victims of human trafficking are mostly women. I cannot be indifferent to this neither as a citizen of the state that fosters democratic values nor as a politician. In particular, I cannot be indifferent as a woman. Women finding themselves in the mire of slavery and exploitation are also mothers, sisters and daughters. Behind the dry statistics are thousands of broken lives. It is not only the lives of women, but also the lives of those who love them, the Speaker said with great regret.
The leader of the parliament is convinced that values of democratic society are often overshadowed today by the pandering to the interests of a consumer society with emphasis being placed on the right and freedom of consumption, while the duty of conscious consumption is neglected.
The prevention of trafficking in human beings can start from small things, in particular respect for others. It will not change the current situation at once, but it will be a significant step towards a dignified society, said Loreta Graužinienė. Let us not sell our dignity. Let us be united in the fight against human trafficking.
Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, also made a presentation during the discussion which centred on national coordination of activities aimed at combating human trafficking and exchange of experience between law enforcement officers and experts from Sweden and Lithuania.
Rimas Rudaitis, Public Relations Unit, Communications Department, Office of the Seimas,
tel. +370 5 239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]
