Dhaka, Bangladesh – 06 April 2023- UNODC, under the framework of Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants – Bangladesh (GLO.ACT-Bangladesh) organized a workshop on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and the Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) with inter-university law students from 4 to 6 December 2022 in collaboration with iProbono.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
Mahdy Hassan, UNODC National Programme Coordinator of GLO.ACT-Bangladesh, opened the workshop and provided an overview of the organization's work in the country. He highlighted the purpose of the three-day workshop. Next, Arpeeta S Mizan, Senior Legal Officer at iProbono and Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Dhaka, spoke about the importance of simulation in clinical legal education. She emphasized how it can help participants learn practical skills such as identifying elements of TIP and SOM.
During the inauguration ceremony, two special guests gave speeches. Khandakar Farzana Rahman, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka, spoke about the importance of involving young people in efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM). Amaia Zabala, Team Leader for Governance at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, emphasized the need for future criminal justice professionals to develop empathy towards TIP and SOM victims.
Several speakers addressed the importance of creating a safe environment for students and faculty members, as well as promoting social skills to foster active citizenship against crime and abuse. Mr. Marco Teixeira, Regional Representative of the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia, emphasized this point.
The chief guest of the ceremony, Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP and Chairperson of the Parliamentarians Caucus on Migration and Development in the Bangladesh National Parliament, spoke about the need to regulate middlemen and to add a separate chapter on smuggling of migrants (SOM) and its elements to the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012. He requested technical support from the UNODC on this matter, highlighting the need for further discussion and action in parliament.
The three-day workshop featured learning sessions conducted by a team of experts including Emraan Azad, Assistant Professor of Law at Bangladesh University of Professionals, Advocate Tarek Rahman, Legal Officer at iProbono Bangladesh, MD Ekramul Habib, Additional DIG of Organized Crime at the Criminal Investigation Department of Bangladesh Police, Arpeeta S Mizan, and Mahdy Hassan.
The first day of the workshop focused on providing a theoretical understanding of trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), using interactive lectures and group exercises. On the second and third days, the participants engaged in simulation exercises, a powerful pedagogy that allows students to experience real-world problems and contexts. For this workshop, the participants were divided into groups as community advocates and interviewed seven role-players who posed as victims, survivors, concerned local villagers, and agents and middlemen connected with criminal networks.
The simulation concluded with small group presentations by the participants, highlighting their findings and investigation reports. Overall, the workshop provided an immersive and practical learning experience for the participants, allowing them to develop their knowledge and skills in countering both crimes.
The workshop concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony. Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Director of Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, delivered the closing speech as the chief guest of the ceremony. He emphasized the importance of providing access to justice for victims of human trafficking and praised the workshop for its efforts in raising awareness of TIP and SOM.
Closing remarks were also delivered by Sumaiya Shimu, Chairman of Better Future for Women, and Professor Dr. Md. Rizwanul Islam, Chair of the Department of Law at North South University, as well as Professor Dr. S M Masum Billah, Dean of the Department of Law at Jagannath University. Together, they reiterated the need for continued efforts to combat TIP and SOM, and commended the participants for their dedication and commitment to the cause.
The workshop was attended by 48 participants (24 females/24 male) including senior-level law and criminology students who were officially nominated by 11 universities namely the University of Dhaka; Jahangirnagar University; Jagannath University; North South University; BRAC University; Independent University, Bangladesh; East West University; Eastern University; Bangladesh University of Professionals; Daffodil International University; and Dhaka International University.
The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants - Bangladesh (GLO.ACT - Bangladesh) is a 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). GLO.ACT-Bangladesh builds on a global community of practice set in motion in GLO.ACT 2015-2019 in 13 partner countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Through targeted, innovative and demand-driven interventions, the GLO.ACT aims to support the Government of Bangladesh and civil society organizations to more effectively fight the crimes of human trafficking and migrant smuggling across the country. The project works on developing evidence-based information on trafficking and smuggling patterns and trends, legislative review and harmonization, capability development of criminal justice actors, and international cooperation. The project also provides direct assistance to victims of human trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations through the strengthening of identification, referral, and protection mechanisms. The project is fully committed to mainstreaming Human Rights and Gender Equality considerations across all of its activities.
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Mahdy Hassan: muhammad.hassan@un.org
unodc-glo.act@un.org
GLO.ACT Bangladesh
Twitter: @glo_act