Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 30 - 31 January 2025
Dushanbe, Tajikistan - Media plays an important role in preventing and addressing human trafficking as it has the power to guide the conversation on human trafficking, whilst holding relevant stakeholders accountable. Moreover, the media plays a vital role in advocating for the rights of victims by sharing their stories, drawing attention to their struggles, and advocating for improved support services.
UNODC, in the framework of the EU-funded GLO.ACT (PROTECT) project conducted a two-day workshop in Tajikistan from 30 to 31 January to train journalists in ethical reporting of human trafficking cases.
Twenty-five journalists and media representatives based in Dushanbe and various regions of Tajikistan participated in the training. The event was opened by Firdavs Odinaev, UNODC National Project Officer, who highlighted that “today’s workshop equips media representatives with all the necessary tools to report on human trafficking in an effective yet humane manner, adhering to the highest ethical standards.” Mr. Odinaev further stressed that taking a victim-centred and gender-sensitive approach, that considers the traumatic experience of survivors, will be of utmost importance.
On the first day, participants learned about the scope of human trafficking in Tajikistan and current trends, the international and national legal framework, as well as peculiarities in the coverage of human trafficking cases in the press and other mass media. In addition, participants were informed about common mistakes journalists make when reporting trafficking offences. In an interactive segment, media professionals created impactful reels and short videos to raise awareness around human trafficking. On the second day, participants were trained on the specifics of law enforcement and media relations in human trafficking cases to prevent potential harm to victims of trafficking and ensure confidentiality.
The workshop concluded with a series of recommendations on how to prepare journalistic material on the topic of human trafficking, whilst avoiding to perpetuate gender stereotypes. With these recommendations at hand, journalists can contribute to a more informed, respectful, and impactful conversation about human trafficking and its complexities, that upholds the rights of victims of trafficking.
This training marks an important step towards strengthening the role of journalists in reporting on this crucial issue. Together we can make the world safer and fairer for those at risk.
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The training workshop was held under the umbrella of the EU-funded initiative PROTECT: Improving Migration Management & Migrant Protection in Selected Silk Route Countries (2023-2026). UNODC is implementing the EU-funded PROTECT initiative within the framework of GLO.ACT across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. This initiative also addresses challenges in the broader Central Asia region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with a primary focus on enhancing the effectiveness of responses to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), particularly in relation to criminal justice.
Meanwhile, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is responsible for implementing the PROTECT initiative in Afghanistan (specifically through virtual MRC Afghanistan), Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Their primary objectives include improving gender-sensitive and rights-based migration governance at the national level and establishing Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs).
This project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Reeve
GLO.ACT Coordinator, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC
Email: martin.reeve@un.org
Golda Myra Roma
Senior Project Manager, Silk Routes Region – Budapest Process, ICMPD
Email: golda.roma@icmpd.org
