OSCE Office in Tajikistan supports development of National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking

DUSHANBE, 3 November 2010 - A session of a government working group that will develop a new action plan to combat human trafficking in Tajikistan, supported by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, concluded today with a visit by participants in an OSCE Border Management Staff College course on combating human trafficking.

The course participants and instructors - professionals from Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan and Russia - shared experiences with members of the Working Group of the Inter-Agency Committee on Trafficking in Human Beings.

"The visit enabled the policy-makers in the Working Group to benefit from the professionals' international practical experience as they move forward with the draft Action Plan," said OSCE Gender and Anti-Trafficking Officer Maria Gratschew, who is taking part in the working group at the invitation of the government.

The Staff College's five-day course includes topics such as identification of cases, referral mechanisms, victims´ assistance and other issues that are crucial for border management professionals who are likely to deal with human trafficking.

The Working Group of the Government of Tajikistan´s Inter-Agency Committee on Trafficking in Human Beings comprises 13 members, representing a range of government departments, non-governmental organizations and international organizations. Some of the Tajik government representatives in the group have earlier taken part in anti-trafficking courses organized by the Tajik Police Academy and the OSCE Office.