Tunis, Tunisia - 29 September 2024
"We are at the front lines at the borders; this training will help us better recognize how to save lives and fight human trafficking and migrant smuggling."
Tunisia is strategically located in North Africa, making it a country of origin, transit, and destination for migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The efforts against serious organized crime are a priority for Tunisia. Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking crimes are often closely linked to various crime types, document fraud, cybercrime, and terrorism, are among the most pressing criminal threats. To enhance Tunisia's capacity to dismantle criminal networks, UNODC provides technical assistance and capacity-building through a project funded by the European Union “Dismantling the criminal networks operating in North Africa and involved in migrant smuggling and human trafficking.”
A crucial aspect of addressing human trafficking and migrant smuggling is the ability to detect and identify fraudulent documents, often used by criminal networks to facilitate these crimes. Fraudulent documents are the grease that eases cross-border crime of all types. They include fraudulently obtained, illegally issued, forged, and counterfeit documents. Identity documents are any documents which may be used to verify aspects of a person’s personal identity.
Recently, UNODC conducted four trainings in Tunisia for the Ministry of Interior, including the National Guard and National Security, and for the Directorate General of Customs under the Ministry of Finance. The trainings covered theoretical and practical skills through case studies and group activities, aligning with international standards and focusing on real-world applications such as recognizing illegally created documents or fake ones and how fraudulent use of genuine documents could take place such as recognizing illegally created security documents or the fraudulent use of genuine ones, such as recognizing illegally created documents or fake ones and how fraudulent use of genuine documents to recognize illegally created security documents or the fraudulent use of genuine ones.
"We are at the front lines at the borders; this training will help us better recognize how to save lives and fight human trafficking and migrant smuggling," Ahmed* a participant in the training told UNODC.
To further ensure sustainability, the training took on a training of trainers' approach so that the participants can train their colleagues in the future and ensure that the knowledge gained is both deepened and widely disseminated.
With continued support and collaboration, Tunisia is set to make significant progress in detecting and breaking up these criminal networks. Efforts like this will continue to strengthen frontline officers and foster regional collaboration, ensuring a sustained impact in countering human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.