IOM supports marking EU Anti-Trafficking Day in Azerbaijan

This year’s event aims to promote public awareness on human trafficking and its consequences; to increase knowledge on EU strategy towards the eradication of human trafficking, as well as international judicial cooperation, legal norms and conceptions in countering trafficking.

The event brought together government officials, representatives of international and civil society organisations, alongside local and international experts. Opening remarks delivered by Kestutis Jankauskas, Head of EU Delegation to Azerbaijan; Heydar Heydarov, Chief of the Main Department on Combatting Trafficking in Human beings at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs; and Serhan Aktoprak, Chief of IOM Mission in Azerbaijan. The panel sessions devoted to topics on problems and challenges in obtaining compensation rights of victims; best practices of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on fundamental rights of individuals and migrants in situations of vulnerability and relevant case law; and international cooperation of Azerbaijan in countering human trafficking. Participants also watched a short video documentary on counter trafficking.

The event, funded by the European Union and co-funded by IOM Development Fund, was organised as part of IOM-implemented project on enhancement of national capacities to combat human trafficking in Azerbaijan.