The Police of the Republic of Armenia (RA) with support from IOM,
is convening a two-day meeting in Yerevan this week for 15
representatives from the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) States of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation, and Tajikistan, to address human trafficking issues and
responses in the region.

The event, which ends today, is the first such
"operation-oriented" meeting among the heads of the respective
counter-trafficking divisions, to share good practices in
investigation and search operations to combat human trafficking in
CSTO countries. Participants will also discuss possibilities for
enhanced cooperation between law enforcement, and other state
bodies, international, intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations.

Representatives from the State bodies involved in the national
referral mechanism for victims of trafficking (VoTs) are
participating in the meeting as well, highlighting the importance
of direct assistance provided to VoTs, including rehabilitation and
reintegration. The meeting also includes presentation of
counter-trafficking educational materials developed by IOM for use
in Armenian secondary schools, and a visit to the Armenian Police
Academy, which has a computer-based module on counter-trafficking,
for police officer training.

"The working meeting is a timely and consolidated response to
criminal networks posing transnational threats, which can more
effectively be countered through coordinated interaction among the
CSTO counter-trafficking divisions," the Head of the Division to
Combat Human Trafficking of the RA Police noted in opening
remarks.

"IOM strongly supports this initiative to further cooperation
between all those involved in fighting human trafficking in the
CSTO States" says IOM Head of Office for Armenia, Ilona
Ter-Minasyan.

IOM counter-trafficking projects in Armenia range from
implementation of research and capacity building activities to
direct provision of medical, psychological, legal support and
shelter assistance to more than 127 victims of trafficking.

For more information, please contact:

Kristina Galstyan

IOM Armenia

Tel: +374 10 585692, Ext. 112

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