OSCE Office in Baku trains officials on human trafficking and asylum seekers

BAKU, 21 June 2012 – A two-day training course on human trafficking and asylum seekers started today for border guards and officials from the State Migration Service and security service based at Baku International Airport. The OSCE Office in Baku is co-organizing the event with UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) missions in Azerbaijan. The training course will focus on the identification of victims of trafficking and forced labour among asylum seekers.

“States need to strengthen their commitment and investment for protecting potential victims, particularly asylum seekers and migrants, from becoming commodities in the hands of traffickers,” said Melissa Stone, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, in her opening speech.

“Like any form of organized crime, trafficking in humans and forced labour affects not only a country's reputation, but undermines a country's social, political and economic security. In addition, trafficking and forced labour are violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The course will also provide information on the right to asylum as a principle of non-refoulement and will cover issues related to labour migrants, irregular migrants and undocumented persons. National and international experts will deliver presentations on the process for determining refugee status and granting asylum, government systems and the role of civil society organizations in protecting victims of trafficking and forced labour, and indicators for identifying victims.