OSCE Office holds anti-trafficking training in Armenia
Source:OSCE
YEREVAN, 29 June 2004 – A three-day training session on human trafficking
started today in Yerevan for experts and interviewers from two local
non-governmental organizations that are carrying out a survey on trafficking
in Armenia. The training is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and
funded by the US State Department.
The training session will concentrate on best practices in research on
trafficking in human beings and will also include a session on the
methodology of a train-the-trainers component. The two local NGOs conducting
the survey are the Armenian Sociological Association and the Armenian Relief
Society.
“There is disturbing anecdotal evidence that Armenia is both a country of
origin and transit for trafficked human beings, but there is no actual data
about the scope of the problem,” said Blanka Hancilova, the OSCE Office’s
Democratization Officer.
“The objective of the NGO survey, which is the most comprehensive one so far
conducted in Armenia, is to close this gap. The information gained will be
shared with the Armenian authorities, civil society and international
organizations and should serve as a basis for policy decisions on the
issue,” she said.
As part of its anti-trafficking strategy, the OSCE Office has supported the
development of a National Plan of Action for the prevention of trafficking
in persons and organized several seminars on the issue.
At present a team of national experts is working on analyzing gaps in the
existing legal framework, with special emphasis on victim and witness
protection. An international expert from the Italian Prosecutor’s Office
will join the team in September to share international best practices in
dealing effectively with trafficking, corruption and organized crime.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress