Countering trafficking in persons necessitates evidence-based responses focusing on evaluating trends and patterns of the crime

alt text is missing

(Online), 27 September 2021 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is undertaking a comprehensive Pacific virtual training on data collection, data analysis and reporting on trafficking in persons from 14 to 29 September. The training focuses on how to improve collection of statistics on trafficking in persons for analytical purposes and how to share findings through reporting and data visualization. The training also focuses on analyzing trends, patterns and flows, to create the basis for accurate crime monitoring and data-driven responses.

The training course, conducted by the UNODC Crime Research Section, has attracted over one hundred participants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Nauru and Vanuatu.

In her opening remarks, Rebecca Miller, the UNODC Regional Coordinator for Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in South-East Asia and Pacific, acknowledged the importance of the training course for the Pacific, “Unfortunately there is very little trafficking data in the Pacific and this lack or neglect of evidence can lead to ineffective anti-trafficking policies and practices. This training will strengthen all of our capacities to collect and report solid data on human trafficking to ensure our efforts to combat human trafficking are driven by evidence.”

Ms. Miller added that UNODC was advancing work on testing methods to help uncover the magnitude of trafficking and assist countries to measure progress towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8 and 16, which include targets on human trafficking. She acknowledged Pacific stakeholders who have engaged virtually with UNODC since the launch of the ‘UNODC Trafficking in Persons Pacific Data Project’ in 2020, and particularly, Fiji stakeholders for piloting a new research method to estimate the hidden figure of trafficking. The UNODC TIP Pacific Data Project is funded by the US Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Person, and aims to strengthen human trafficking data collection systems in the Pacific.

Daniel Evensen from the US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons reminded participants that they should not lose sight of the purpose of data on trafficking in persons, which is ultimately to have the information needed to prevent the crime and prevent individuals becoming victims.

Fabrizio Sarrica, Team Leader from the Crime Research Section, began the training by presenting the Global Trafficking in Persons Report 2020, showing patterns and flows of trafficking in persons at the national, regional and international levels which have been analysed from official national data of detected trafficking cases collected from countries all over the world. Pacific participants from police and justice, immigration, employment, social services, statistical offices, research institutions, legal firms and civil society organisations, will benefit from three training modules exploring data collection, research approaches and data analysis, and data sharing, protection and reporting on trafficking in persons.