Counter-trafficking training for law enforcement officers
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) organised a series
of training workshops on counter-trafficking for law enforcement
officers under a project funded by the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) to strengthen national efforts in addressing
trafficking issues.
To date over 300 law enforcement officers have been trained in
identifying, tracking and prosecuting cases of trafficking in Sri Lanka
during workshops held in Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Anuradhapura, Badulla,
Ampara and Kurunegala.
Following an assessment on the process of identifying and prosecuting
cases of trafficking in Sri Lanka, IOM in consultation with stakeholders
— the Sri Lanka Police Department, the Attorney General’s Department and
the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment — developed a curriculum for
the training.
An international consultant, engaged by IOM, trained 50 police
trainers from the Police Department representing all the districts.
These trainers will continue to support institutional training of the
police systematically.
IOM is assisting the police in incorporating the training curriculum
on trafficking into their existing training programme to ensure
sustainability of training. The project targets to train a total of 500
law enforcement officers including police and immigration officers by
July 2008.
Other activities under this initiative include: setting up a database
to track trafficking cases, enhancing collaboration and coordination
among government and non-governmental organizations, and developing a
policy document on prevention of trafficking. |