Vienna, Austria 25 February 2021 – On 22 to 23 February 2021, the GLO.ACT-Asia and the Middle East project, in conjunction with UNODC’s Research and Trends Analysis Branch, conducted an online Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Illicit Financial Flows from Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM). These two crimes are known to be financially motivated and are often perpetrated by organized criminal networks. Tackling financial profits can be an effective strategy to strengthen the evidence base for TIP and SOM criminal trials; prove the case; and return funds to victims and law enforcement, in addition to deterrence.
In attendance were 36 participants (18 males and 18 females), drawn from a variety of backgrounds including research, law enforcement, civil society, criminal justice, commerce and international organizations. The meeting facilitated discussion and analysis of information, experiences, and available data, towards a regional study on illicit financial flows derived from TIP and SOM covering selected GLO.ACT partner countries in Asia and the Middle East. It also identified leads for further information gathering for the regional study, based on the most current available research and trends identified by key actors working in the field.
Referring to the impact of COVID-19 on migrant smuggling in South East Asia, Roberto Forin, Global Programme Coordinator at the Mixed Migration Centre said, “The need for smugglers has increased due to a reduction in opportunities for legal migration brought about by COVID enforcement measures, such as limited access to visas for neighbouring countries.”
Discussions also explored among other things, the organization of criminal networks, estimates of amounts made in the TIP and SOM enterprise, extortion in transit countries, payment modalities, the complexity of financial investigations even in jurisdictions with enabling legal and institutional frameworks; and the role of public-private partnerships in TIP and SOM financial investigations.
Once finalized, the regional study will provide an evidence base for key initiatives in GLO.ACT partner countries. These may include closer coordination between law enforcement and financial regulators in financial investigations related to TIP and SOM cases; legal and policy reform; cross border information-sharing initiatives on illicit financial flows related to TIP and SOM; and intelligence driven operations.
The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants - Asia and the Middle East (GLO.ACT Asia and the Middle East) is a four-year (2018-2022), €12 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in four countries: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Iraq and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The project builds on a global community of practice set in motion in GLO.ACT 2015-2019 and assists governmental authorities and civil society organizations in targeted, innovative and demand-driven interventions: sustaining effective strategy and policy development, legislative review and harmonization, capability development, and regional and trans-regional cooperation. The project also provides direct assistance to victims of human trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and protection mechanisms.
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information please contact:
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act2/index.html
Email: unodc-glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act