Inspectors of the Directorate of Migration
are taking part in a two-day training seminar aimed at
strengthening their capacity to deal with human trafficking ad
migrant smuggling.

The 85 inspectors will discuss lessons learnt
and best ways to deal with the increasing number of cases of human
trafficking and migrant smuggling into, through and from the
Dominican Republic.

Anita Sifres, Assistant Director of Migration
said, "This training is important for these new inspectors that
will be deployed to work at land borders, airports and offices that
issue travel documents."

In the past 16 months the General Directorate
of Migration has handled 197 cases of smuggling of migrants of
which 60% have been forwarded to the courts and seven cases of
international human trafficking for forced labor and sexual
exploitation.

This project is part of IOM's counter
trafficking activities that have been carried out since 2001 with
the support of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of
the State Department of the United States of America.

IOM has provided similar training to other
government officials and to members of civil society and
educational institutions.

For more information contact:

Fanny Polania

IOM Santo Domingo

Tel: 1-809 732 71 21

Email: "mailto:fpolania@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">fpolania@iom.int