Despite progress made by countries in strengthening their capacity to manage migration more efficiently and effectively and counter trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), significant challenges remain. In view of the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum[1] (2020), EU’s Strategy to tackle Organized Crime[2] (2021-2025) and the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings[3] (2021-2025) and the renewed EU Action Plan against Migrant Smuggling[4] (2021-2025), UNODC identified commonalities in terms of policy priorities in origin, transit and destination Silk Route countries in the Middle East and Central Asia. These commonalities illustrate the importance international partnership projects play in advancing work that address a) irregular migration including the prevention of and fight against smuggling of migrants and all forms of trafficking in human beings, support to migrants in situations of vulnerability and b) builds the capacity for a robust yet specialized criminal justice response, while protecting and empowering trafficking victims and smuggled migrants.
The proposed 3-year intervention considers numerous aspects of migration, mobility and forced displacement, it particularly focuses on countering migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings (including children) in this context. It will do so by practically and effectively targeting associated criminal justice challenges in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Tajikistan, while examining horizontal challenges in the broader region of Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan) that hinder efforts to better counter both crimes. Protection and prevention approaches are also mainstreamed throughout.
Building on the EU funded Global Action against TIP and SOM in Asia and the Middle East (GLO.ACT-Asia and Middle East), being implemented from 2018-2023 in 5 partner countries, including Afghanistan, I.R. Iran, Iraq and Pakistan, the proposed intervention will consolidate existing gains and amplify ongoing EU efforts in the areas of migration, mobility, forced displacement and trafficking, especially from the perspective of addressing cross-border and illicit financial flows. In the Kyrgyz Republic, this intervention builds upon learned experience implementing from 2015-2019 including innovative prevention campaigns involving youth. PROTECT will be implemented by UNODC through the Global Action to Address Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling (GLO.ACT).
This project is funded by the European Union.
