Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeSummary andRecommendations• Training for trainers in presenting trafficking as a human rights violation.Future trainers are supposed to be able to conduct training forthe general public and for individuals involved in anti-trafficking activities(OSCE/ODIHR, University of North London/IOM);• Within the framework of SPTTF activities, the International Centre forMigration Policy Development, International Migration Policy Programmeand SECI, in co-operation with IOM is organising the ComprehensiveProgramme for Training, Exchange and Co-operation. Theprogramme is to contribute to the combat of trafficking in humanbeings by establishing a comprehensive, structured and enduringprocess for training, exchange and co-operation activities in theaffected regions and between the relevant actors (including governmentalrepresentatives, law enforcement agents, NGOs, representativesof international organisations). The programme seeks to fosternational and regional capacities to tackle comprehensively traffickingin human beings, to further the exchange of information, experienceand best practices, and to enhance national and regional co-operationamong all concerned.The multiplicity of approaches and training institutions, which worked withoutany co-ordination of their efforts and without any knowledge of each other orof the other training programmes, was useful and inevitable in the beginningphase of the anti-trafficking action. Currently, when a more comprehensiveapproach and co-operation within the SPTTF structure are better developed,there is also a need for more co-ordination of the training programmes, andco-operation between training agencies.Some training programmes still ignore the fact that the legal and institutionalframework for anti-trafficking work in the region already exists, althoughthere is a generally accepted definition of trafficking and a clearly expressedwill in the region to harmonise anti-trafficking law with the UN and the EU legalframeworks. The co-operation within SPTTF provides the countries of theregion with an organisational structure for anti-trafficking action at regionaland national level. The NPAs, which clearly describe plans for action andresponsible agencies, are the basis for current and future anti-trafficking initiatives.Training programmes, which ignore the role of the NPA and do notsupport them, are not useful, as the information they provide does not harmoniseunder the NPA umbrella.The Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit of the University of North Londondeveloped a training programme before the SPTTF National Plans of Actionwere in place. This programme, unfortunately, does not co-ordinate well withthe outlined framework or with other partners in the field. Therefore its relevanceas a source of information about trafficking and combating traffickingin the region is decreasing and the information is often outdated or not useful,while useful information is lacking.While regional training projects are important and have their place, they aretoo generic and limited by nature to general awareness raising and exchangeof experiences. However, the general awareness and knowledge of traffickingamong governments and NGOs has increased in the past couple of years sothat training needs are now more specific and related to either planning orimplementing anti-trafficking laws and the development or implementation ofguidelines at the country level.164New training programmes should be based on the current information fromthe region and take into account all the new developments. They should beinformed about the NPAs initiatives and support them, they should foster