Baghdad, Iraq – From 26 to 27 November 2024, a technical training session was held at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) headquarters in Baghdad, focusing on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for investigating Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM). This training followed the official handover of the SOPs to relevant counterparts, with the focus now shifting to ensuring their effective application and institutionalization.
Facilitated by UNODC under the EU-funded GLO.ACT (PROTECT) project, the training aimed to equip MOI investigators with a thorough understanding of the newly developed SOPs, which serve as essential guidelines for conducting modern, efficient, and victim-centered investigations.
The programme provided investigators with a comprehensive skill set to address various aspects of criminal cases. This included analyzing the underlying causes of TIP and SOM crimes, applying advanced investigative techniques, and distinguishing between victims and perpetrators through case management tools.
A significant focus of the training was on familiarizing investigators with the legal and procedural frameworks supporting TIP and SOM investigations. This knowledge equips participants to navigate the complexities of criminal cases, handle evidence appropriately, and ensure compliance with both national laws and international standards.
The training also emphasized practical approaches to gathering accurate and reliable evidence, employing forensic analysis where necessary, and upholding ethical standards throughout the investigation process.
By enhancing investigators’ capacities, the training aimed to foster justice for victims, ensuring their rights are protected while holding offenders accountable under the law.
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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is implementing the European Union-(EU) funded PROTECT initiative within the framework of GLO.ACT across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. This initiative also addresses challenges in the broader Central Asia region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with a primary focus on enhancing the effectiveness of responses to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), particularly in relation to criminal justice. Meanwhile, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is responsible for implementing the PROTECT initiative in Afghanistan (specifically through virtual MRC Afghanistan), Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Their primary objectives include improving gender-sensitive and rights-based migration governance at the national level and establishing Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs).
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Reeve (Mr.), Coordinator, GLO.ACT, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC
Email: martin.reeve@un.org
Golda Myra ROMA (Ms.), Senior Project Manager, ICMPD Silk Routes Region – Budapest Process
Email: Golda.Roma@icmpd.org