Sri Lanka: Building capacities of officials to counter trafficking in persons

  

Colombo, November 08, 2019: Seeking to enhance institutional responses to counter trafficking in persons, UNODC convened 29 authorised officers of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Government of Sri Lanka on 8 th November-the latest in a series of training workshops aimed at strengthening coordination and cooperation.

The training sought to equip the participating officials with the relevant skills and knowledge to enhance victim identification and referring them for necessary assistance and protection. The discussions focused on a wide range of thematic areas, including the legal framework applicable to human trafficking, the difference between human trafficking and human smuggling, and ways to identify and assist victims.

 

Participants also deliberated on the Department Circular issued giving effect to the provisions of the Standard Operating Procedures introduced by the National Anti- Human Trafficking Task Force, and the need for officials to understand the procedure relevant to the Department of Immigration and Emigration was emphasized.

This activity was held in the framework of the UNODC project on "Strengthening the implementation of a comprehensive response to trafficking in persons in India and Sri Lanka", implemented as part of the UNODC Global Programme against Trafficking in Persons, jointly with the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia and with the financial support of the United Kingdom.

Aimed at strengthening responses to tackling trafficking in persons as evidenced by better identification of victims and initiation of investigations, this project also contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in particular SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions