UNODC Regional Training Series on Preventing and Countering Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Somalia

Regional Office for Eastern Africa (UNODC ROEA) today finalized a series of three 5-day training workshops for Somali Police Force Officers on "Investigation Tactics for Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Cases".

The workshops targeting Criminal Investigation Officers as well as Immigration officers from Mogadishu, Nugal (Garowe) and Bari (Bossaso) regions of Somalia held in Chelsea Village, Mogadishu from 14 - 18 July 2018 and in UNCC, Garowe, Puntland from 21 July to 1August 2018. A total of 55 officers were trained.

The workshop in Mogadishu was officially opened and also closed by the Head of the General Kahiye Police Academy, General Hassan Alasow. In his closing remarks, Gen. Alasow underscored that "I have been made aware about the skills the officers have gained in this course, as a result it would enable them to investigate cases of TIPSOM in a more effective way".

In Puntland the workshops were opened and also closed by Colonel Mohamed Ahmed, head of Training for the Puntland Police Force. In his closing remarks, Col. Ahmed said that " the TiPSoM training has enabled a group of core officers in the investigation and CID departments to understand the difference between the Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants. As a result, they will be better equipped to do conduct their investigations. We would like to encourage UNODC to deliver further training for our frontline officers in TiPSoM investigation and awareness".

The training courses were delivered by UNODC within the framework of the UNODC Regional Programme for Eastern Africa (2016-2021) and the Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme, which is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The course aims to improve knowledge and skills of law enforcement officers to effectively investigate TiPSoM cases. The trainings were based upon the UNODC manuals for Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants - investigation and prosecution.

The BMM programme is being implemented by GIZ, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the British Council, Civipol, Expertise France, the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The BMM programme aims at improving migration management in the region, and in particular at addressing trafficking and smuggling of migrants within, and from the Horn of Africa.

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