Dhaka, Bangladesh - 15 September 2023 – On 22 January 2023, UNODC under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants-Bangladesh (GLO.ACT-Bangladesh) project launched the LL.M. course on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants at Eastern University in Bangladesh. The LL.M. course was developed based on the UNODC education materials supporting the Doha Declaration. The educational materials aim to build a culture of lawfulness among children and youth through the provision of age-appropriate educational materials on topics related to criminal justice, crime prevention and the rule of law, and the integration of those materials into the curricula of all education levels. At University level, the UNODC educational material aims to facilitate and promote teaching on issues related to UNODC’s mandate areas, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
GLO.ACT-Bangladesh has been organizing workshops and ToTs on the 14 university modules on trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM). Building on these engagements, Eastern University took the initiative to launch an LL.M. course on TIP and SOM. The GLO.ACT-Bangladesh project supported the University in formulating the course curriculum and material. The proposal for LL.M. course on TIP and SOM from Eastern University received approval from the University Grants Commission and the course has already been started from February 2023.
Biswajit Chanda, Member, University Grants Commission and the National Human Rights Commission joined the launching as the chief guest. He welcomed the initiative and encouraged universities to incorporate practical courses in their curriculum to create a pool of specialists in the criminal justice arena. After the launching ceremony, the guests and officials from UNODC and Eastern University inaugurated the UNODC library corner at the Central Library of the University. GLO.ACT-Bangladesh team will support Eastern University in coordinating the course through curriculum designing, facilitating sessions with experts from UNODC and organizing practical learning exercises.
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, National Programme Coordinator
unodc-glo.act@un.org
GLO.ACT Bangladesh
X: @glo_act