Ministry of National Security/IOM to train officials about Human Trafficking

The Ministry of National Security in collaboration with the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) will next week hold the first in a series of Training Sessions to sensitize officials about Human Trafficking.{{more}}

Next week’s session will take place from January 23 to 26, and will begin with an Opening Ceremony on Monday, commencing at 9:00 a.m. at the Foreign Affairs Conference Room.

Remarks will be delivered by the Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller, Chissey Mueller, Director of IOM, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Douglas Slater.

The training sessions will be in keeping with the recently assented to Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2011.

The objective of the training is to sensitize officials: to understand Trafficking’s basic concepts and SVG’s Trafficking in Persons Act (2011); to know key stakeholders’ role and responsibilities in SVG’s response to TIP; To know about and know how to use a referral process for victim identification and assistance.

Chissey Mueller of the IOM will be the main facilitator at the session, which will see attendance from officials from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force; the Immigration Department; the Social Welfare Department; NGOs; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc.; the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Office; the Port Authority – Port Police and the Attorney General’s Office.

On Thursday, January 26, members of the National Task Force, headed by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves will attend a briefing session on the various aspects related to Trafficking in Persons.

The Trafficking in Persons Programme is part of the Work Programme developed with the IOM. Other Training Sessions will be conducted in February and March 2012.