GLO.ACT

This page corresponds to the first phase of the GLOACT project (2015-2019). The project is currently in its second phase (2018-2022). You can find information on the current phase of the GLOACT project by clicking on GLOACT Asia and the Middle East or GLOACT Bangladesh.

The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants was a four-year (2015-2019) joint initiative by the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The programme formed part of a joint response to trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants and it was delivered in 13 strategically selected countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. A focus was placed on assistance to governmental authorities, civil society organizations, victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants.

Aims and Objectives

The programme assisted the selected countries in developing and implementing comprehensive national counter-trafficking and counter-smuggling responses. A dual prevention and protection approach was adopted and included six key responses linked to the following objectives:

• Strategy and policy development
• Legislative assistance
• Capacity building
• Regional and trans-regional cooperation
• Protection and assistance to victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants
• Assistance and support to children among victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants

More specifically, IOM focused on objective 5, by developing and implementing protection and assistance frameworks that upheld the rights of trafficked, smuggled migrants, and other migrants in vulnerable situations, as well as by improving vulnerable migrants’ access to protective and assistance services, and by improving the capacity of protection actors to deliver high-quality services. These activities were implemented by IOM in six select beneficiary countries, namely Belarus, Brazil, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mali, Morocco and South Africa. At the global level, IOM developed standards, guidance materials, and training curricula on assistance to vulnerable migrants and associated topics.

By the end of the project, Governments and civil society partners in the target countries had the skills and mechanisms in place to identify and screen migrants for vulnerabilities, including adult and children victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, and to refer them to the relevant service providers for protection and assistance, in line with international standards. Further, the project ensured that all protection actors will have access to improved and elaborated global standards and resources on assistance to vulnerable migrants. 

This project is funded by the European Union.

Donors

• European Union
• IOM Development Fund

Activities

• Global
• Brazil
  • Protocol on Assistance for Migrants in Vulnerable Situations signed in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
• Belarus
  • Signature of Agreement
• Mali
  • Training of governmental and non-governmental actors
  • Signature of Grant Agreement 
  • Opening of an outreach and accommodation center for vulnerable migrants
• Morocco
  • IOM Launches Advance Version of Migrants Protection Handbook
  • Training of Diplomatic and Consular Personnel
  • Signature of Grant Agreement 
• South Africa
  • Signature of Grant Agreement

Contact Us

Heather Komenda
Programme Manager
hkomenda@iom.int

Noelle Darbellay
Project Offcer
darbellay@iom.int