OSCE starts anti-trafficking project in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE/KHUJAND, 18 January 2002 - The OSCE Mission to Tajikistan has begun a three-month pilot project aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking among law enforcement officials in the city of Khujand, northern Tajikistan.

From 26 to 28 December 2001, the Mission's field office in Khujand, in co-operation with the NGO 'Modar', conducted the first of a series of seminars on human trafficking for high-ranking members of several law enforcement bodies, including the judiciary, the prosecutor's office, internal affairs, border guards and the department of national security.

The seminar aimed at 'training trainers' who could then organize seminars and training for other law enforcement officials in Khujand. During the coming three months six more such seminars will be held.

The support of high-ranking officials is necessary to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about the problem of human trafficking. According to a recent study by the International Organization for Migration, Khujand is one of the centres of human trafficking in Tajikistan.

The training was unexpectedly complemented by real-life drama. A victim of trafficking who was at the same time seeking assistance at the OSCE premises agreed to participate in the seminar and to talk about her experience. Her dramatic story helped bring home to participants the difficult situation of a trafficked person.

Two high-ranking experts, Abdumanon Halikov, Member of Parliament and the Deputy Head of the Legislative and Citizen's Rights Committee and Takdirshoh Sharipov, Dean of the Law faculty of the Tajikistan State University, assisted in the training.

The project activities will be accompanied by a round table with civil society and law enforcement bodies from Khujand.