IOM Azerbaijan successfully completed a tree-day training for First Responders on Identification of Victims of Trafficking in Lankaran

The training covers the subjects on detection, identification, and referral of victims of trafficking in persons forced labor, and assistance to people at risk of trafficking and exploitation, as well as potential victims of trafficking. During the training, frontline workers from the executive power and police divisions of the Lenkeran district, representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and NGOs working in social service with the roles and mandates that put them in a position to interact with or detect potential victims were provided training from the CT Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, IOM Azerbaijan, the Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Labor, and the local NGOs’ such as TEMAS PU, and MAGIYA PU staff.

During the training participants, relevant officials from state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and representatives of NGOs active in the field had the opportunity to discuss and exchange experiences, approaches, and their knowledge on Trafficking and Anti-Trafficking Basic Concepts, Consequences of Trafficking on Health of Victims, Ethics in Communication/Interviewing presumed victims, Standard Activity Procedures in the Republic of Azerbaijan, National Legislation in Azerbaijan on Trafficking in Persons, National Referral Mechanism Models, and the Azerbaijan National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

At the end of the training, certificates were distributed to participants.

It should be mentioned that previous trainings for First Responders on Identification of Victims of Trafficking took place in Ganja, Baku, and Guba. Since the beginning of IOM Azerbaijan’s capacity building trainings up to 50 frontline workers have been trained.

USAID’s Countering Trafficking in Persons Activity, implemented by IOM, assists the Government of Azerbaijan and NGOs to further improve Azerbaijan's effectiveness in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and forced labor as well as addressing gender-based violence.  This includes technical and financial support to civil society organizations operating shelters that assist potential and actual victims of trafficking and forced labor.