UNODC enhances the capacities of the Territorial Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour of the Xorazm Region

UNODC in cooperation with the Sub-Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Winrock International delivered a two-day Train of Trainer Seminar “Enhancing the Capacities of Local Actors in Countering Trafficking in Persons” (the ToT regional seminar) in Khiva city on 14–15 March 2022.

28 participants from the Regional Office of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the Khiva District Court, local khokimyat, and regional departments of Health Care, Employment and Labour Relations, Support of Mahalla and Family, and Medical-Social Services enhanced their capacities within their competence on detection and investigation of trafficking in persons crimes, identification and referral of trafficking in persons crimes victims, and development of multidisciplinary and multisectoral cooperation. The trained practitioners were capacitated to deliver cascaded training to colleagues in their respective organizations.

“We were excited to share our knowledge and experience with the practitioners of the Xorazm region, which is among the most sufficient regions to detect and investigate trafficking in persons crimes. Through practical exercises, role plays, and case studies, the practitioners further developed their multidisciplinary partnerships and capacities to detect and investigate trafficking in persons and to identify and handle victims. It is crucial that all practitioners speak the same voice”, outlined Dr. Reda Sirgediene, UNODC Regional Adviser on TIP and Smuggling of Migrants for Central Asia.

“These trainings are very useful and they substantially contribute to improving the institutional and human resource capacity in detection and investigation of trafficking in persons crimes cases, as well as promoting close interaction among relevant national stakeholders in identification and referral mechanism of TIP victims”, emphasized Mr. Narimon Rakhimov, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Forced Labour, Head of the Department for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Illegal Migration of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In 2021, the ToT regional seminars were organized in the Jizzakh, Namangan, Bukhara, Andijan, and Surxandaryo regions, the Republic of Karakalpakistan, and Tashkent city developing professional skills for over 210 responsible practitioners in the outlined regions.

The ToT seminars are aimed at developing the same level of knowledge of responsible practitioners in all regions of Uzbekistan and are implemented under the financial support of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

As the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its complementary Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, UNODC supports the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan in its efforts to strengthen the criminal justice response to trafficking in persons.

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko

UNODC Criminal Justice Programme Communication and PR Specialist in Central Asia 

UNODC ROCA 

+996775987817 WhatsApp 

vasilina.brazhko [at]un.org