IOM and the Sri Lanka Police Department have created a UK-funded
database to combat human trafficking.

The database, hosted at the Police Criminal Records Division,
will house relevant statistical data on trafficking and will be
used to update information on trafficking cases progressively,
helping to track them and identify trends and individuals
concerned.

"There is a considerable gap in data between identified and
prosecuted cases of human trafficking. The aim of the database is
to bridge that gap," says Anuradhi Navaratnam, who manages IOM Sri
Lanka's Counter Trafficking Unit.

The database is designed to serve as a comprehensive, central
data collection system, which will record human trafficking
offences and help law enforcement officers to track and prosecute
cases. Plans are also underway to link it with other government
bodies dealing with trafficking, in order to bring together all the
partners and stakeholders involved.

The project, funded by the British High Commission in Colombo,
is an integral part of IOM Sri Lanka's Migration Management
assistance portfolio, through which IOM supports national
initiatives designed to strengthen the capacity of government and
other stakeholders to manage migration more effectively.

For more information please contact:

Anuradhi Navaratnam

E-mail: "mailto:pnavaratnam@iom.int">pnavaratnam@iom.int

Stacey Winston

E-mail: "mailto:swinston@iom.int">swinston@iom.int

or

Passanna Gunasekera

E-mail: "mailto:pgunasekera@iom.int">pgunasekera@iom.int