To curb human trafficking

Participants during the training

Relief International (RI), Bangladesh has implementing two years long a project namely, “Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking in Bangladesh (PVHT)”. As part of this project, RI has completed five capacity building training programs.     These trainings brought together more than 175 officials of 35 NGOs from 30 districts in Bangladesh.
RI consulted the local government and law enforcement officials to identify the most proactive local organisations working actively to curb human trafficking, and at the same time, also used newspaper advertisements to invite local organisations to nominate their members for participation in these trainings. The first training program was organised on 21-22 April 2014 and the last, the 5th training, was organised on 21st May 2014 where Mr. Nazrul Islam, Country Director, Relief International, Bangladesh delivered his speech with some inspiring instruction to the participants. He said that, we like to work with small organisations because they really work for the marginalised communities and they can reach to the potential victims of human trafficking in Bangladesh.
The objective of the training was to sensitise on human trafficking issues focusing on adult male person; to build capacity of local NGOs and CBOs, to provide mini grants to generate awareness on the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act, 2012 through innovative use of Information, Education and Communication (IEC).
The program is supported by US State Department's Office to monitor and combat trafficking in persons. This training, it is hoped, will sharpen the skills of the existing social workers and civil society officials who are closest to the community members of the marginalised communities. Relief International trained the participants on means of identifying victims, especially the means of identifying male victims who do not know how to come forward to seek help.
By these trainings, the participants understand the plight of the male victims is just as severe as those of the female victims. A training module has also been developed by Relief International, Bangladesh for this purpose. Ms. Rokeya Choudhury, Lecturer of Law, University of Dhaka is invited as trainer. Mr. Najmul Islam and Mr. Subrato Kumar Sorma, Senior Program Officer; and Ms. Sushmita Choudhury, Program Officer-Public Awareness and Campaign of Relief International, Bangladesh also facilitate the training sessions with their pragmatic knowledge. The expected goal of the training is to ensure that the most vulnerable victims of trafficking will be rescued and connected as well to the existing support services and networks.

The Writer is an Intern of Relief International, Bangladesh.