- Kindly note that the workshop on Enhancing Victim Identification and Protection in the Asia-Pacific Region to be held in early November has been postponed to 12 ~ 15 December 2023.

- The application deadline is extended to November 7 (Tuesday) accordingly.

- Those who are interested in joining the workshop, please refer to the following announcement where you can find the new date reflected.

This announcement is for those who are interested in a face-to-face workshop on 'Enhancing Victim Identification and Protection in the Asia-Pacific Region' and would like to apply for our workshop for further learning, extensive networking, and knowledge sharing. Please read carefully and apply, as soon as possible to be a part of this exciting, insightful experience.

Enhancing Victim Identification and Protection in the Asia-Pacific Region

12 ~ 15 December 2023

Jeju, Republic of Korea

Organized by

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) CIFAL Jeju/JITC

Regional Support Office of the Bali Processon People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime

Background

According to the Palermo Protocol 2000[1], Trafficking in Persons involves the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving a person through the use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploitation. Virtually every country, as origin, transit or destination, around the world is affected by human trafficking which ended up in sexual exploitation, forced labour, servitude, and removal of organs. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their home countries and abroad.

Global anti-trafficking efforts at a regional, national and local level, together with international organizations and non-governmental organizations, have been made in line with the “3P” paradigm of Prosecution, Protection, and Prevention established by the 2010 United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons[2] with an emphasis on the importance of Victim-Centered Approachwhich puts the rights and dignity of victims, including their well-being and safety, at the forefront of all efforts to ensure compassionate and sensitive delivery of services in a nonjudgemental manner.  Despite these collective efforts, however, the world still witnesses a persistent increase in human trafficking, which in turn poses a threat to human rights and security. In fact, the human trafficking crime is becoming more complex and more clandestine, taking place in a wide range of contexts and thus hard to identify the victims and the perpetrators as well, and to figure out the scale of the crime and exploitation. This challenges policy makers whose way of understanding human trafficking has a profound impact on how national and local governments combat the crime.

Considering the importance of victim identification, it is very critical to understand what victim identification is in anti-trafficking efforts. Victim identification is “the process, generally a series of interactions, through which an individual is identified as a trafficking victim by relevant practitioners, and interactions at all stages of the process should be trauma-informed, victim-sensitive, child-friendly, gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate”.[3] Destination countries where most of the identification process takes place frequently grapple with complex challenges, finding themselves at the forefront of combating Trafficking In Persons(TIP). As trafficking networks become increasingly sophisticated and victims’ vulnerabilities are exploited in evolving ways, destination countries need to play a pivotal role in identifying and providing necessary support to victims. The collaborative efforts of border officials, law enforcement, social services, non-government organizations, and other relevant government entities within these countries underscore the necessity for a robust approach to victim identification and support.  

Against this backdrop, the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (RSO) has laid foundation for developing a comprehensive training on victim identification and support. UNITAR CIFAL has played a pivotal role in enhancing the capacity of individuals and organizations engaged in anti-human trafficking activities through joint training since 2015. This collaborative effort between UNITAR CIFAL Jeju and the RSO of the Bali Process is a testament to our commitment in combating human trafficking.

This joint workshop is the in-person program to be resumed since our last collaborative event held face-to-face in 2019. The workshop will serve as a platform to promote a victim-centered and multidisciplinary approach to trafficking victim identification. For law enforcement, border agencies, social services, and NGO personnel, this training offers a chance to advance their knowledge and skills, enabling them to effectively identify and respond to trafficking victims with tools and methods that provide victim-centered and culturally appropriate support. Through this joint-training program, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the core elements that constitute the practice of identifying trafficking victims. In particular, the program aims to cultivate an empathetic perspective, enabling participants to grasp the experiences that trafficking victims undergo throughout the intricate process of identification.

Event objectives

This capacity building training workshop will:

ž  Provide a platform for sharing good practices in identifying, assisting, and protecting victims of trafficking; 

ž  Help understand the Victim-Centered Approach and its applications in various scenarios;

ž  Take stock of the structural and institutional complexities that often hinder victim identification and efforts to prevent trafficking;

ž Share key approaches that are critical in victim identification, such as trauma-informed practices, victim sensitivity, child-friendly methods, gender sensitivity, and culturally appropriate approaches; and

ž  Highlight the need for improvement in victim identification and prevention methodologies, and help participants acquire the tools to implement practical solutions that enhance the efficacy of victim identification

Expected outcomes

By the end of the training, participants will be able to: 

ž  Explain what constitutes trafficking victim identification;

ž  Understand structural and institutional challenges to identification and prevention;

ž  Recognize what is needed to improve efforts to identify victims and prevent trafficking;

ž  Share knowledge on trafficking victim identification and prevention with other practitioners;

ž  Apply key approaches in their work (for example, being trauma-informed, victim-sensitive, child-friendly, gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate);

ž  Use the accompanying Practitioner Guide to implement their learning in their day-to-day work;

ž  Apply UNITAR-developed CityShare methodology to evaluate and compare each other’s anti- trafficking policies, and make specific action plans for local implementation and follow-up on lessons learned; and 

ž  Build professional networks, exchange information and knowledge among the participants. 

Target audience and participation

The intended participants for this training program encompass law enforcement agencies, border and immigration control personnel, as well as social service departments actively engaged in victim identification and support within countries affected by trafficking. It is important to note that a country's classification as a destination, for TIP can vary depending on the specific form of trafficking. Still, a comprehensive range of countries will be considered.

The training aims to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, bringing together professionals from various sectors to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and collectively strengthen the capacity for effective victim identification. By fostering collaboration and cross-sectoral learning, the training seeks to harness the collective expertise of participants and drive impactful change in the field of human trafficking identification, prevention, and victim protection.

Methodology

The training will be comprised of: 

-  Lectures and presentations by experts 

-  Practical exercises and group discussion/activity

-  Case study presentations by participants

-  UNITAR CityShare approach 

Event details 

· Event type           Workshop (fact-to-face)

· Date                     12 – 15 December 2023

· Venue                  Jeju-do, Republic of Korea

· Organizers          UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC, Regional Support Office of the Bali Process

· Certificate           UNITAR, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC, and RSO of the Bali Process will issue a certificate upon the completion of the training.

Application and deadline

Send the following documents to cifaljeju.jitc.1@gmail.com by Tuesday November 7, 2023:

-   

 ** Late application will NOT be accepted.

Note

·  Application without the required documents will NOT be considered.

·  Participation is subject to the approval of the application by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC.

·  Selected applicants will be notified individually.

Assistance with travel expenses

·  UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC and RSO of the Bali Process provides LIMITED financial assistance with the airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea.

·  Local expenses (transportation between venue and hotel, accommodation, and meals) during the workshop period will be covered by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC and RSO of the Bali Process.

·  All other expenses (local transportation in their country, visa fee) including during arrival and departure daysshould be covered by the participants.

Contact

Ms. Sunhee Cho, Senior Program Officer/UNITAR CIFAL Jeju

E-mail:cifaljeju.jitc.1@gmail.com

Ms. Eunjung Yi, Project Manager/RSO of the Bali Process

E-mail: eunjung.yi@rso.baliprocess.net