Manual for Training Police on Anti Human Trafficking

Facilitating Skills
This section is completely devoted to you, the trainer/facilitator. <strong>Training</strong> is all about enhancing
per<strong>for</strong>mance by bringing about a change in the knowledge, attitudes and skills of the trainees. Module
One and Two have covered the knowledge and awareness aspect while Module Three on facilitating
change has dealt with attitude – those modules are <strong>for</strong> you to use with and <strong>for</strong> your participants. The
last and remaining section is entirely and exclusively <strong>for</strong> you, the facilitator. Eventually, of course, the
learning from this too will be passed on to your participants.
1. TRAINING AND TRAINER/FACILITATOR AS AGENTS OF CHANGE
<strong>Training</strong> is seen as a vehicle of change. The trainer/facilitator is the agent of change. Please see your
training as a medium to bring about change especially in the context of AHT. Your interaction with the
participants should attempt not only to positively influence the particular individual who is being
trained but this change should be contagious, or undergo a ‘ripple effect’. In other words attitudes of
those who have undergone training should undergo a change so that when they go back to the field,
their behavior will have an impact on the behaviour of others. This training on AHT, will thus, act as a
catalytic agent.
Moreover because of the nature of the issue of human trafficking, you will have to be very clear as to
what are your expectations of the participants when it comes to putting their learning into practice in
the context of policing and AHT. Issues of building sensitivity will be accepted and grasped more easily
if your participants can see them flowing from you. Howsoever clichéd it may sound, but practicing
be<strong>for</strong>e preaching is tantamount to an effective facilitation of change. ‘Preaching’ about gender sensitivity
– encouraging participants to show respect and empathy towards the victims/survivors – such suggestions
won’t have nearly as fruitful outcomes unless you, the facilitator demonstrate them yourself. Thus, the
following are some characteristics which you should manifest as a facilitator to ensure that your message
gets carried through to your participants.
Characteristics of a Trainer/Facilitator 45
Empathy – Your understanding of the issue of trafficking must also be reflected through your interaction
with the participants. Your sensitivity to the trafficking issue is most important in setting a precedent
be<strong>for</strong>e you attempt to train other officers.
Honesty – Projecting your quality as an honest person is vital. Your ability to accept any mistakes in
the discussions/training content that may be pointed out by the participants is a positive thing.
Patience – You must be patient with the trainees. Given the volatility of the issue and the fact that
many participants have undergone different levels/degrees of socialization and might have resistance
towards accepting new ideas, there may be situations where you may have to soothe tempers and
appease all by firm yet polite interventions.
Pace – It is essential that a consistent pace of the training sessions is maintained throughout. The
participants must not lose interest nor must they be impatient to jump into the next session.
Democracy – While the set-up of the workshop is fairly well-planned and structured, the facilitator
should welcome suggestions from the participants and discuss the same, subject to the level of its
relevance. You must be seen as a democratic trainer/facilitator who is not going to <strong>for</strong>ce his/her
understanding on the trainees/participants and willing to accept their views as well.
Purpose – You must always clarify the purpose of incorporating any specific exercise/reading to the
participants. The purpose of the training on AHT is to enable the participants to understand the issues
and concepts related to trafficking and steps they ought to follow while interacting with the victim/
survivor of trafficking.
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