Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – From 12 to 13 November 2024, a technical training session was held in Erbil, Iraq, 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 investigators from the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Interior (MOI) with a thorough understanding of these newly developed SOPs. These guidelines are essential tools 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 root causes of TIP and SOM crimes, applying advanced investigative techniques, and distinguishing between victims and perpetrators through case management.
A significant focus of the training was on familiarizing participants with the legal and procedural frameworks underpinning TIP and SOM investigations. This knowledge enables investigators to navigate complex criminal cases, manage evidence effectively, and ensure compliance with national laws and international standards.
The training also emphasized practical approaches to gathering accurate and reliable evidence, utilizing forensic analysis where necessary, and maintaining ethical standards throughout the investigative process.
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
