UNODC, INL enhance the inter-agency cooperation in Tajikistan to combat Trafficking in Persons

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. It is a multi-billion-dollar form of international organized crime combatting which requires strong cooperation and coordination between states, agencies and other institutions.

Information exchange among criminal justice institutions between countries on investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial matters on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) remains a challenge. Building proper inter-agency cooperation and enhance knowledge of justice sector professionals on international TIP protocols are timely and necessary.

To address these issues and enhance knowledge and skills of law enforcement representatives, UNODC partnered with the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Tajikistan at a two-day webinar on how to build effective cooperation on TIP and SOM.

15 participants were introduced to general principles of formal and informal international cooperation; international legal framework; best practices in mutual legal assistance; extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons; and confiscation of proceeds of crime. The webinar was facilitated by the Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch of UNODC Vienna.

The trainers also introduced SHERLOC, an online knowledge management portal. This portal is designed to promote communication between States, police enforcement agencies, civil societies and other organizations, and has been developed to easily provide access to legal cases related to countries' implementation of the Organized Crime Convention.

“We strive to support the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to prevent and combat trafficking in persons through effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its supplementing Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children”, said Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia.

Ms. Mittal also mentioned that “to support the country in addressing the TIP/SOM, UNODC supports the strengthening of national legislation and counter-trafficking policies, promotes inter-agency cooperation at both national and international levels, provides assistance and support to victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children”.

At the Webinar, H.E. Mr. John Mark Pommersheim, US Ambassador to Tajikistan, said that he shares the commitment of UNODC. “INL is ready to support national legislations, technical capacity building activities and support victims of human trafficking in Tajikistan”.

As the outcome of the workshop, some recommendations and suggestions were presented at the closing session, based on the observations of participants. These findings will be translated and circulated among relevant stakeholders after the workshop.

UNODC, as a guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, assists the Republic of Tajikistan in its efforts to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Trafficking in Persons Protocol).

The UNODC project “Strengthening Law Enforcement Responses to Trafficking in Persons in Tajikistan” is funded by the US State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

 

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