OSCE Mission concludes series of training courses on fighting trafficking in human beings for Kosovo policewomen

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the Association of Women in the Kosovo Police organized a three-day train-the-trainer course on trafficking in human beings (THB) for senior female police officers. The course, attended by 25 officers, including lieutenants and sergeants operating in the Directorate for Investigation of THB and other units within the Kosovo Police, was held from 21 to 23 March 2018 in Ohrid, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

This tailored course aimed at enhancing the technical skills of senior women police officers in leading THB investigations. The role of referral mechanisms in the identification and protection of victims of trafficking, THB as a crime of gender based violence and challenges in tackling it, and a victim-oriented approach to the identification of victims of trafficking were also explored during the course.

“Combating human trafficking is one of the most demanding and complex issues in every society. Hence, increasing the skills of police officers, and especially women police officers, to work in prevention, identification and combating human trafficking, is of the utmost importance,” said Shpresa Mulliqi, OSCE Mission in Kosovo Public Safety Awareness Officer.

“With participants introduced to the techniques of planning, preparing and conducting interviews with adult and child victims of trafficking, and trained to deliver similar trainings to other police officers, the Mission is helping the police to strengthen capacities which will directly contribute to the prevention and combatting of THB,” she added.

The training is the third and final module of a Mission-organized three-phase training course on THB. Participants, future THB trainers, were selected following an evaluation by local and international field experts and the completion of the first and second modules held in 2017.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, as well as with democratization and public safety sector development. It regularly delivers advanced and specialized training courses for law enforcement agencies to further improve their capacities.