UNDP ARMENIA AND THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL JOIN EFFORTS TO FIGHT TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS: The United Nations Development Program
(UNDP) and the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of
Armenia signed on June 14 a Memorandum of Understanding that marked
the new phase in cooperation between UNDP project on “Anti-Trafficking
Program: Capacity Building Support and Victims Assistance” and the
Government of Armenia.

Representatives of UN family in Armenia, diplomatic corps, government,
and major partners were present at the event.

A press release by UNDP Armenia Office said the enhanced cooperation
is aimed at preventing and effectively responding to trafficking
in human beings and illegal migration, as well as at boosting the
effectiveness of counter-trafficking activities. The Parties to the
Agreement agreed to jointly work in the area of institutional and
legislative development, as well as capacity building of the law
enforcement bodies of Armenia. UNDP and the Office of Prosecutor
General have a rich history of cooperation in the past few years
in a number of areas. The Memorandum signed yesterday represents
a timely response to the challenges of trafficking in Armenia,
especially through prevention of trafficking in human beings and
illegal migration, and prosecution of traffickers.

The Memorandum signed is in line with the National Action Plan for the
Prevention of Trafficking in Persons from the Republic of Armenia. Mr.

Alexander Avanessov, UNDP Armenia Resident Representative a.i.,
noted in his speech: “Trafficking is an evil that destroys the very
fabric of life of Armenian families, and jointly with the Government,
we are confident that that the results of our enhanced cooperation
will be seen in the near future. We will focus our efforts not only
on prevention of trafficking, but also to direct assistance to those
suffered from this evil.”

The aim of UNDP two-year project on “Anti-Trafficking Program:
Capacity Building Support and Victims Assistance” is to facilitate
the development of a national framework to tackle the problem of human
trafficking at the policy and institutional levels as well as provide
direct assistance to victims of trafficking. The project has three
components; a) strengthening national capacity for policy elaboration;
b) raising public awareness, and c) assistance to victims.