Baku - The training of trainers (ToT) for First Responders on Identification of Victims of Trafficking took place between the 30th August and 3rd of September in Baku and was carried out by the IOM Azerbaijan under the project “Counter-Trafficking in Persons Activity” Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in close coordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MIA).

Speaking at the launch of the training, Hazi Aslanov, the Head of Counter-Trafficking Main Department of MIA commended the work of IOM Azerbaijan, especially through the support provided the government bodies, as well as assistance provided to victims of trafficking. Noted the achievements of Azerbaijan over the previous years in the field of combating human trafficking, Hazi Aslanov underscored that the project implemented in close cooperation with IOM Azerbaijan makes an important contribution to this area. “From 2005 to 2021 since the recognition of human trafficking as an independent type of crime in the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, 1714 cases of human trafficking and forced labor have been registered, 594 persons were prosecuted, and 1,070 victims were provided with reintegration assistance in the country,” Aslanov said.

Vladimir Gjorgjiev, the Chief of IOM Mission to Azerbaijan highlighted the importance of cooperation among partner organizations dealing with human trafficking issues in Azerbaijan to improve the country’s effectiveness in preventing and combating human trafficking and forced labour through raising public awareness on TIP. “We need to raise awareness about the fight against human trafficking and ensure a more holistic approach to CT. Our organization will continue to support the Government Azerbaijan on the CTIP National Action Plan implementation,” Gjorgjiev said.

Dhulce-Janice McGuire, Office Director at USAID Azerbaijan, expressed the hope that this training which is very important for relevant CT stakeholders from the national government and civil society organizations will allow them to work effectively and efficiently.

During the ToT international and national participants, relevant officials from state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and representatives of NGOs active in the field were provided training from Valbona Lenja, IOM Expert & Trainers and they had the opportunity to discuss and exchange experiences, approaches and broaden their knowledge on trafficking, an anti-trafficking system in Azerbaijan and abroad, the challenges, the achievements, and protection of victims of trafficking.

Sudaba Mammadova, head of the Tamas Regional Development Public Union in Ganja, said that although all participants are experienced law enforcement officials and professionals from NGOs, the ToT built their knowledge on the challenge of combating human trafficking while providing them with specific tools to train others.

Gunel Alakbarova, a representative of the Women's Initiatives and Social Issues Assistance Public Union, said that the group training with representatives of government agencies and other non-governmental organizations during the ToT was important for their cooperation. "Here we had the opportunity to exchange experiences with our colleagues, representatives of government agencies, to learn about changes in existing legislation and new laws in our field."

In addition, the IOM’s project “Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Activity” funded by USAID is supporting the Government of Azerbaijan with several other activities to further improve the country’s effectiveness in preventing and combating human trafficking and forced labour through raising public awareness on TIP and providing technical and financial support to the civil society organization operating shelters for assisting potential and actual victims of trafficking and forced labour.

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