Somalia - IOM Somalia last week conducted a two-day training for 20 journalists and public information officials in Garowe, Puntland State, on human rights-based reporting of child trafficking and gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

The training was part of an IOM project: Prevention of Child Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Protection and Care for Victims in Somalia, funded by the European Union and the Government of Japan. It targeted journalists and staff from Puntland’s Ministry of Information, Communication, Posts and Culture.

The workshop was the third of its kind conducted by IOM and focused on basic concepts of child trafficking and GBV, highlighting the need for a human rights-based approach to reporting on such cases. The previous trainings in Garowe and Bossaso were well-received.

Welcoming the training, Minister of Information Suleiman Said Nor said: “We expect that the journalists and Ministry of Information staff will increase their knowledge of human rights-based reporting and concepts of GBV and child trafficking, as well as learn how to interview GBV survivors and victims of child trafficking.”

IOM is utilizing television, newspapers, internet sites such as Puntland Today, radio and social media to raise public awareness of child trafficking, smuggling and GBV, because the difference between cross-border trafficking and smuggling is often misunderstood.  

People are often familiar with the concept of smuggling, but know relatively little about trafficking. More therefore needs to be done to encourage the identification of victims and the reporting of the crimes to the relevant authorities. 

IOM is closely working with all relevant stakeholders, including the government, civil society, the media and community members, to ensure that they are involved in addressing GBV and child trafficking.

Solomon Tagel, Migration Assistance Division Programme Manager at IOM Somalia said: “GBV and child trafficking are serious violations of human rights that take away a person’s dignity and deny them the opportunity to live a decent life. IOM is committed to helping the Puntland Administration to tackle this issue.”

For further information, please contact IOM Somalia. Solomon Tagel, Tel: +254 791 843 372, Email: tsolomon@iom.int or Ruth Mbugua, Tel: +254 710 366 128, Email: rmbugua@iom.int