Casablanca, Morocco 4 October 2018 - Following the first training session in Tangier in July 2018, and the establishment of a network of prosecutors representing each court of appeal in Morocco, the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants ( GLO.ACT) organized a second training for the prosecutor network against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Casablanca from 24 to 26 September 2018.
As under Law 27-14, human trafficking offenses constitute a serious crime directly handled by the courts of appeal, the Moroccan public prosecution decided to establish a network of prosecutors representing each court of appeal. The aim of this network is to have prosecutors that have developed in-depth knowledge on the complexities related to TIP cases. Thus, to build a common understanding, practice and network of professionals working on the same topic, two prosecutors per court are being trained by UNODC under the framework of GLO.ACT.
During her opening session, Ms. Eurídice Márquez, UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer opened her session by asking: "Why we are here? She answered saying: "Because we care; because we care about the life and the suffering trafficking victims have endured. "
During the first two days of the workshop, international and national legal frameworks were outlined by a range of experts to support the better identification of victims, help with investigations and prosecution techniques. Through an approach of combining theory with practical exercises, 21 prosecutors were able to gain relevant knowledge on how to approach, investigate and potentially prosecute complex human trafficking cases.
Speaking during the workshop, Ms. Oufroukhi, the head of the judicial cooperation department at the specialized public prosecution office, responsible for women's and children's issues, vulnerable populations, and trafficking in persons and the Department of Justice representative for GLO.ACT said, "TIP has a very serious impact on human beings and their rights. It takes away their humanity, especially that of women and children."
Evidential issues and victim protection principles were the focus of the third day. Rights and protection of victims and witnesses are at the core of any judicial investigation under the UNTOC and the protocols thereto, as well as an integral part of GLO.ACT's mandate.
During the workshop, prosecutors were very engaged in debates on how to correctly apply the law to practical cases, thus confirming the momentum created by Law 27-14 in Morocco. These debates were expertly facilitated by UNODC experts, Dr. Mohanad Dweikat and Mr. Ahmed Abu El Einen. In addition, Mr. Mohamed Chabib, a national expert, worked with the participants on real TIP cases to build a better understanding of the role of the prosecution in the identification of victims, prosecution techniques and on victim protection principles.
During the workshop there was a focus on better and more efficient international cooperation based on the exchange of information and law-enforcement cooperation drawing from best practices across GLO.ACT's 13 target countries. The workshop was also attended by Mrs. Caroline Frieh-Chevalier and Ms. Anne Simone from the European Union Delegation to Morocco.
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 provides assistance 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 providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact
Sara Bentefrit
National Programme Officer
Email: sara.bentefrit@un.org
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
Twitter: @glo_act