Vienna, Austria - 5 December 2017 - Under the framework of UNODC's Global Programme against the Smuggling of Migrants, 8 GLO.ACT National Project Officers (NPO) attended, alongside UNODC headquarter and other colleagues, a three-day internal workshop on migrant smuggling on 20-22 November 2017 in Vienna. The aim of the workshop was to ensure that colleagues in headquarters as well as colleagues working in the UNODC country offices attain the same level of understanding on key concepts, key UNODC reference tools and capacity building tools with regards to the smuggling of migrants (SOM).
Prior to the workshop, participants had to complete a questionnaire asking them to reflect and comment on their own ability to provide technical assistance on migrant smuggling. Furthermore, they were asked to reflect on how comfortable they are communicating about UNODC's role when it comes to migrant smuggling and were invited to share some positive experiences when delivering technical assistance. Some participants indicated that incorporating role-play in order to get key concepts across had been very helpful, while others indicated that organizing simulations based on real cases from UNODC's Case Law Database had proved successful.
During his opening remarks, Mr. John Brandolino, Director of UNODC's Division of Treaty Affairs, spoke about the tragedies smuggled migrants go through for the gains to smugglers.
The workshop, organized by Ms. Morgane Nicot, Coordinator of UNODC's Global Programme against Smuggling of Migrants, and Ms. Bianca Kopp, Progamme Management Officer, was highly interactive in nature. Day one provided an overview of key concepts and UNODC's policy positions given increasingly complex migrant smuggling scenarios faced by governments. It was also an opportunity to work on how to use case-based simulations in training. This included working on an in-depth case study, which enabled participants to gain real insights into the complexities when looking at issues related to migrant smuggling.
Days two and three looked at issues such as identifying the challenges of using case law in training, what type of methodology and substance to include when providing legislative assistance and looking at available tools and resources, including e-learning and live exercises. It was during the second day that Ms. Aimee Comrie, UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer and GLO.ACT policy lead, presented her group's analysis of the Glauco case, involving smuggling at sea between Italy and Libya. Questions considered during the real case study included the nature of organized crime involvement, the financial trail of evidence, complex transnational intercepts and fluid hierarchies in the organized criminal group - all of which made the mock-investigation more challenging. The workshop concluded with a brief communications sessions that looked at the importance of understanding one's target audience and how to craft appropriate messages for each audience.
Speaking about the workshop, Ms. Snow White Smelser, GLO.ACT Project Officer, explained that "Colleagues from around the world not only grasped a deeper understanding of the issues related to migrant smuggling but also had to opportunity to showcase their individual expertise. Amongst us colleagues lies a mixed pool of valuable knowledge that we are made aware of through workshops like the one we just participated in."
GLO.ACT continues to address SOM across the pillars of the project, and is actively engaging with national governments in research and analysis of new inter-regional routes and trends between Asia/Africa/Latin America, the development of national strategy and action plans in the several regions including in Mali and Niger, and supporting legislative review and new migrant smuggling legislation in several partner countries.
Following the internal workshop on SOM, the GLO.ACT team also participated in a one-day internal project management, communications and visibility workshop.
The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to assist to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including assisting victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
To find out more about the Smuggling of Migrants:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/smuggling-of-migrants.html?ref=menuside
For more information, please contact:
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act