Ashgabat - IOM held an online training "The role of mass media and NGOs on effective informational and educational campaigns on combating human trafficking and minimizing the risks of vulnerable migrants in Central Asia."

The media representatives from all regions of Turkmenistan, employees of the press services of local government entities, editors, journalists of local media and digital news platforms, representatives of public organizations of Turkmenistan were present at the event.

The event covered the issues of migration which most countries of the world are facing today. Particularly, the topics were covered social vulnerability and criminalization as a cause of labor migration growth and increased risks for certain social groups.

Participants discussed current issues related to migration and human trafficking and the ways of cooperation to combat this. One of the effective mechanisms in combatting human trafficking mentioned during the seminar was the raising awareness activities for population especially among youth.

In the context of the rapid development of information digitalization, the media plays a significant role in increasing the legal awareness of population, promoting the principles of safe and humane migration management, preventing cases of human trafficking and minimizing risks. This, as well as the need for a broader media coverage of humane principles of migration is also stated in the Global Compact on Migration, adopted by Turkmenistan and the world community in December 2018 in Morocco.

Turkmenistan supported the Global Compact on Migration and participates in the implementation of programs of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the field of combating human trafficking and providing assistance to victims. The country has adopted and implementing the "National Action Plan of Turkmenistan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings for 2020-2022", which supports an active role for media on this matter.

Participants discussed various approaches and ways of covering in media the most relevant aspects of human trafficking and migration issues. As well it was stressed out that this seminar facilitated to a  closer cooperation between journalists, representatives of civil society on the topics of human trafficking and human rights issues.

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For additional questions, please contact:

Dovlet Chariyev

IOM Communication Focal Point

E-mail: dchariyev@iom.int

Tel:+99312 488407