Ashgabat – On May 10-13 of 2016, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) in Turkmenistan organized a four-day training of trainers on “Multidisciplinary and Multisectoral Approach to Investigation, Prosecution and Adjudication of Trafficking Cases” in Dashoguz, Dashoguz velayat (region). The training of trainers (ToT) was organized for representatives of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges and advocates of Dashoguz and Balkan velayats within the framework of the three-year project on “Strengthening the National Action Plan on TIP in Turkmenistan to ensure coordinated assistance and a victim-centered approach”, funded by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State, launched in October 2015. The conducted ToT training was one of the main components of the project along with strengthening the country’s national human trafficking legislation, provision of training courses for law enforcement, judicial officials, and prosecutors, and development of a National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

The training brought together 18 officials from Prosecutor’s Office and 7 law enforcement officers, 2 judges and 2 advocates from the College of Advocates of Dashoguz and Balkan velayats of Turkmenistan. The aim of the ToT training was to contribute to the institutionalization of the capacity at the local level, through establishing a pool of trainers/experts. At the beginning of the training, participants were familiarized with the objective and tasks of the training in the context of the counter trafficking projects, implemented by IOM Turkmenistan. This presentation, delivered by Ms. Mahym Orazmuhamedova, head of IOM office in Turkmenistan, helped to better understand the role of IOM and main achievements in the area of combating human trafficking, its cooperation with governmental institutions as well as public organizations, the activities aimed at identification of victims of trafficking (VoTs) and provision of necessary assistance to VoTs. The participants increased their knowledge and understanding on the definition of trafficking in persons (TIP) in line with international standards, types of exploitation through the demonstration a video film, a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach to combat human trafficking, possibilities of providing protection as well as assistance to victims of trafficking, and a victim-centered approach in the identification of VoTs and investigation of trafficking cases. Two invited experts on counter-trafficking issues from Ukraine, Mr. Vitalii Kasko and Dr. Andrei Orlean, introduced participants with the aspects of criminal prosecution and trial of criminal cases, international cooperation, and interactive methods of work with the audience during the trainings on TIP issues.

According to the participants, the interactivity used during the training was very important and useful for enhancing their practical knowledge. The attendees had a good opportunity to compare the definition of trafficking in human beings defined by the Law of Turkmenistan with definitions defined under the international treaties, such as the Palermo Protocol, EU Convention and TIP legislation of other countries while working in small groups. They also considered concrete cases and defined these cases as crimes in accordance with the recently adopted Amendment (article 129-1 ) to the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan, by giving them a crime qualification. The training also increased the knowledge and skills of judges and prosecutors to prove the offence of trafficking in order to reach concrete judicial verdicts. At the end of the training, applying the acquired skills, participants were able to develop and deliver presentations on international instruments in the sphere on counter-trafficking, multidisciplinary and multisectorial approach to counter-trafficking, interviewing of victims of trafficking and aspects of criminal prosecution, while the trainers gave recommendations and suggestions to participants on how to better get the message across to audiences and improve their teaching skills.

As an outcome of the ToT training, trained participants will transfer the knowledge and skills to the other colleagues in their respective agencies through conducting trainings and seminars using the training manual. It is expected that trained participants will conduct follow up trainings in their respective agencies. This training complemented previous and ongoing IOM activities in Turkmenistan within the framework of the project, which are implemented in cooperation with national authorities. It is planned to conduct the next ToT training during the third project year.

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For additional questions, please contact:

Dovlet Chariyev

IOM Communication Focal Point

E-mail: dchariyev@iom.int

Tel:+99312 488407