Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 24 September 2024
Nearly every country in the world is affected by trafficking in persons, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims, necessitating coordinated international response from various stakeholders, including diplomatic and consular officials. They have a crucial role to play in responding to cross-border trafficking, including by identifying and referring the cases as well as providing support, protection, and advocacy for victims.
Recognizing this critical function, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan jointly organized a two-day training workshop for diplomatic and consular staff on effective trafficking response mechanisms from 24 to 25 September 2024, in Dushanbe. Funded by the European Union, the workshop is delivered by UNODC under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) and involved twenty-two diplomatic and consular officials (17 male, 5 female) from various transit and destination countries.
Over the course of the two days, participants delved into the complexities of human trafficking, including its trends and legal frameworks, with a special focus on Tajikistan and Central Asia. The first day emphasized international cooperation, while the second day focused on victim-centered approaches and identifying trafficking indicators. Interactive elements, including case studies and mock interviews, allowed participants to practice real-world skills essential for assisting victims.
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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).
The 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