19th April 2018 - Khartoum, Sudan
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducted a first round of awareness raising trainings for journalists in Sudan in collaboration with the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking in Sudan (NCCT) under the framework of the EU-funded GIZ project " Better Migration Management Programme". The workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of Sudanese journalists to report on cases of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
The first three-day training took place in Khartoum from 27 February until 1 March 2018. It was attended by 29 journalists incl 15 female journalist from Khartoum based newspapers. The keynote speeches were presented by Counsellor Adel Shams El-Din, Rapporteur of the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking and Mr. Eltahir Eltahir, UNODC Project Officer in Sudan.
The training was delivered by Ms. Sandra Kozeschnik, UNODC Expert who covered a wide range of sessions on the introduction to the Human Trafficking Toolkit for Journalists , the definitions and the differences between Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), the international legal framework and the general TIP trends in the MENA region based on the latest findings of 2016 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. It also covered the national legal framework of TIP and SOM, and the respective situation in Sudan including the structure of NCCT and its concurrent role.
The workshop applied interactive and participatory approaches. Especially the interview role play enabled the participants to better comprehend the ethical tactic of formulating a story and the importance of relying on credible sources as well as the interview guidelines outlined in the UNODC's Human Trafficking Toolkit for Journalists.
Notably, Sudan has made significant steps in the fight against trafficking in persons. This includes the drafting and the enactment of the Combating of Human Trafficking Act of 2014, that was adopted by the Parliament on 3 March 2014; and the accession to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children on 2 December 2014; besides the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), which Sudan has ratified in 10 December 2004. Moreover, the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking in Sudan was subsequently established under the 2014 Combating of Human Trafficking Act. The Committee is under the supervision of the Minister of Justice and headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice.
The workshop was possible thanks to the Better Migration Management Programme, funded by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
