Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – From 25 - 27 February 2025, a Training of Trainers (ToT) was held for the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) of Federal Iraq as well as Kurdistan Region of Iraq on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) cases. This ToT follows the official handover of the SOPs to relevant counterparts as well as a technical training for investigators of the Kurdistan Region Ministry of the Interior.
Facilitated by UNODC under the EU-funded GLO.ACT (PROTECT) project, the training aimed to promote institutionalization and ensure sustainable implementation of the SOPs by ministries and training institutes. SOPs are powerful tools that serve as essential guidelines for conducting modern, efficient, and victim-centred investigations.
The programme provided participants with comprehensive knowledge on the SOPs and their practical applications. This included detailed presentations on the purpose, content, and implementation of SOPs, as well as case studies and group exercises to enhance victim identification, protection and assistance, and management TIP and SOM cases.
The training also emphasized the role of participants as future trainers, building the capacity of fellow investigators, by covering essential topics such as training techniques and communication skills. By strengthening their abilities as trainers, participants are now well-positioned to advance the implementation of SOPs and thereby uphold best practices in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is implementing the European Union-(EU) funded PROTECT initiative within the framework of GLO.ACT across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. This initiative also addresses challenges in the broader Central Asia region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with a primary focus on enhancing the effectiveness of responses to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), particularly in relation to criminal justice. Meanwhile, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is responsible for implementing the PROTECT initiative in Afghanistan (specifically through virtual MRC Afghanistan), Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Their primary objectives include improving gender-sensitive and rights-based migration governance at the national level and establishing Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs).
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Reeve (Mr.), Coordinator, GLO.ACT, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC
Email: martin.reeve@un.org
Golda Myra ROMA (Ms.), Senior Project Manager, ICMPD Silk Routes Region – Budapest Process
Email: Golda.Roma@icmpd.org
