Bangladesh: UNODC supports digitization process for data collection on Trafficking in Persons

Dhaka, Bangladesh/11 March 2024: In line with GLO.ACT-Bangladesh’s objective to support governmental authorities in building evidence bases on patterns and trends to effectively monitor and evaluate Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and GLO.ACT-Bangladesh jointly conducted the First National Study on Trafficking in Persons in Bangladesh.

The study analyzes TIP in Bangladesh, exploring both domestic flows within the country, as well as cross-border trafficking flows. It recommends building a data collection system and using it as a basis for developing the Annual Country Report on Human Trafficking.

In this context, UNODC is assisting the Ministry of Home Affairs in developing an online data collection system and reporting format for the annual analytical country report on TIP. In June 2023, the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in partnership with UNODC, conducted a Workshop on Data Collection for the Bangladesh Annual Country Report on Human Trafficking, where participants provided their insights on policy guidelines, content, data sources, and requirements for the proposed national database.

Following this, UNODC in partnership with INCIDIN – Bangladesh under the leadership of  MOHA organized a meeting on the development of an Online Data Collection and Reporting Platform for the Annual Country Report on Human Trafficking. Discussions were centered around the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and protocols, as well as the development of a comprehensive user manual for the overall process of data collection and analysis. Through the meeting these initiatives have received preliminary approval and endorsement from the government.

Based on the draft tools, a 2-day workshop was organized at MOHA on providing a hands-on demonstration of the preliminary database. 67 officials from relevant government entities and international and national NGOs were sensitized on the digital platform, and provided detailed feedback on the digital platform to ensure it is user friendly and effective. Discussions also helped enhance cooperation and engagement between UN agencies, government entities and civil society working to prevent and counter TIP in Bangladesh.

Moving forward, all input provided by participants will be incorporated into the upcoming stages of development, and the process will advance towards the final validation by MOHA.

The activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/ 

(Funded by the European Union)