Enhancing Cooperation Measures to Effectively Combat Trafficking in Persons

Enhancing Measures and Cooperation to Effectively Combat Trafficking in Persons through Capacity Building and Technical Assistance - Phase I

In September 2009, IOM started implementing the 12-month ‘Enhancing Measures and Cooperation to Effectively Combat Trafficking in Persons through Capacity Building and Technical Assistance’ Project.

Funded by the US Department of State, the project is the continuation of the ‘National Capacity Building on Shelter and Hotline Management for the Victims of Trafficking in Azerbaijan’ Project which was implemented from 2008 to 2009. IOM, throughout the implementation of the project, works closely and in coordination with the civil society organizations (including media) and the government structures involved in countering trafficking in persons activities in Azerbaijan.

The overall objective of the project is to support the development of effective counter-trafficking responses of the civil society and the government partners to improve prevention, identification, referral and social protection measures for victims of trafficking. 

More specifically, the project plans to:

• enhance the level of identification and referral mechanism of victims of trafficking as well as potential victims of trafficking to safety and care;
• promote dialogue which aims to enhance knowledge and skills enabling all NGOs to cooperate with each other and to deal effectively with the trafficking in persons problem;
• inform the population on the risks of irregular migration and dangers of trafficking in persons;
• strengthen cooperation among government agencies and between them and the civil society through capacity building and technical assistance.

Enhancing measures and cooperation to effectively combat trafficking in persons through capacity building and technical assistance in Azerbaijan - Phase II

Enhancing measures and cooperation to effectively combat trafficking in persons through capacity building and technical assistance in Azerbaijan - Phase II seeks informing society of the benefits of legal migration and risks, dangers associated with irregular migration and victims of trafficking and assist victims of trafficking in their efforts to reintegrate into their society.

In more specific terms, the project seeks to accomplish the following objectives:

• To strengthen national and international capacity to counter trafficking with a particular focus on the problem of trafficking for the purposes of labour exploitation to, from and within the country;
• To continue supporting the establishment of effective cooperation mechanisms among NGOs in Azerbaijan and their counterparts in the primary countries of destination, transit or origin of victims of trafficking;
• To continue informing the society of the benefits of legal migration and risks, dangers associated with irregular migration and victims of trafficking; and
• To assist victims of trafficking and persons who have been subjected to forced labour or trafficked for the purpose of labor exploitation in their efforts to reintegrate into their societies.

The International Organization for Migration, as the leading agency, implements this project in close cooperation with its partners, relevant government agencies and non-governmental organizations including Counter-Trafficking Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Labour Inspectorate, Ministry of Labour and Social protection of the Population, NGOs specialized in providing legal assistance, and the ILO, OSCE Office in Baku.

The project is financed by the US Department of State.