IOM Dhaka has hosted a two-day training of trainers to develop the capacity of government officials to work with victims of human trafficking.

A group of 50 master trainers from the Bangladesh Police and the Department of Social Services attended the programme, which was taught by experts from IOM, the government, the Legal Education Training Institute (LETI) and universities.

The master trainers will in turn provide training to 1,250 district level government officials and law enforcement agencies in 22 districts with a high incidence of human trafficking.

The programme, organized as part of IOM's Prevention and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking in Bangladesh (PPVHT-B) project, is based on a generic training manual developed by IOM and external experts through a consultative process.

It includes sessions on understanding trafficking and safe migration, human rights, legal support, identification, rescue, release, rehabilitation and integration, the effects of trafficking, care and support, counselling and communication, attitudes towards survivors of trafficking and the economic empowerment of victims.

Women, children and men are trafficked from Bangladesh mostly for forced labour and commercial sex work. There are also cases of children trafficked for organ smuggling or trafficked to the Middle East, where they are used as camel jockeys.

Bangladesh has laws to prohibit trafficking, prosecute traffickers and protect survivors. But their implementation is undermined by a lack of resources and qualified staff.

"We should step out of the box to help and care for the survivors of human trafficking. Greater cooperation is needed between the departments of Bangladesh Police and the Department of Social Services to stop trafficking and illegal emigration from Bangladesh," Deputy Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Abdus Salam told trainees.

"This training will improve the capacity of the government in providing care and protection to survivors of trafficking, with their best interest and their rights in mind," said IOM Regional Representative for South Asia Rabab Fatima.


For more information please contact:

Asif Munier
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