UNODC, INL Continue Investigation Skills Training for Law Enforcement on Human Trafficking in Tajikistan

Effective law enforcement responses to trafficking in persons depend to a large extent on the professional capacity of all those involved in the investigation of this heinous crime. 

With targeted support from the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports Tajikistan in developing the capacity of its law enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors to rapidly identify victims and effectively prosecute traffickers, thus strengthening the overall criminal justice response to trafficking in persons in the country.

In partnership with the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Tajikistan, UNODC recently completed a round of training for law enforcement officers.

“This training course is based on a new training manual, which is based on international standards and adapted to national legislation and criminal procedure”, said Mr. Koen Marquering, UNODC Program Coordinator. “The course specifically targets the skills of investigators and prosecutors, which is crucial in terms of ensuring victim-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches and effective use of various investigative techniques and forensic expertise based on interagency coordination, cooperation with civil society and victim support organizations, mutual legal assistance and international cooperation.”

The two-day training course brought together 14 investigators.

According to a training participant: “Successful human trafficking investigations require a rapid, sustained response. After initial interviews of victims, witnesses and where possible, perpetrators, investigators begin collecting information and corroborating evidence to build the charges and the case. During the training, we refreshed our knowledge on investigation techniques”.

The training course is part of a comprehensive capacity development program for police investigators, prosecutors and judges from Dushanbe and provinces to enable effective investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases.

This initiative supports national efforts to strengthen the law enforcement and criminal justice response to trafficking in persons within the framework of the 2019-2021 National Action Plan to counter trafficking in persons in Tajikistan.

 

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