U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ALLOCATES 90 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM ON FIGHTING TRAFFICKING IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Dec 12, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The U.S. State Department Bureau
on Fighting Narcobusiness and Law Enforcement Cooperation allocated
a grant of 90 thousand dollars to the United Methodist Committee
on Relief (UMCOR) Armenian Office for the implementation of the
program under the title Strengthening of Law Enforcement Bodies’
Fighting Trafficking. Program’s goal is to expand the abilities of
Armenia’s Police Investigation Department employees in the issue of
disclosure of trafficking cases and working with people who suffered
from trafficking in line with international norms.

U.S. Ambassador to RA Marie Yovanovitch handed the grant on December 8.

According to her, it is terrible that at present trafficking develops
all over the world. "It is a crime that can knock at the door of each
of us one day: your daughter can be taken for sexual exploitation
with the offer of a good job. Each of us should do his best to put
an end to the slavery of our days," the Ambassador said.

Taking into consideration the circumstance that it is women who mainly
suffer from trafficking, M. Yovanovitch attached importance to the
16-day world agitation campaign against gender violence initiated by
UN. It started on November 25, the International Day of Liquidation
of Violence against Women, and ended on December 10, the Human Rights
International Day.

Within the framework of the program UMCOR will organize courses of
studies for 50 employees of RA Police Investigation Department central
and regional subdivisions on identification of people who suffered
from trafficking and investigation methods of cases on trafficking.