UNODC - Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants in Asia and the Middle East (GLO.ACT)

05.12.2019

 

This project builds on a global community of practice, set in motion during the first phase of GLO.ACT (2015-2019) and in partnership with IOM, in 13 partner countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The second phase will continue to support governmental authorities and civil society organisations in targeted, innovative and demand-driven interventions, in order to sustain effective strategy and policy development, legislative review and harmonisation, capability development, and regional and trans-regional cooperation. The project will also provide direct assistance to victims of human trafficking and vulnerable migrants, through the strengthening of identification, referral, and protection mechanisms.

 

The project aims to enhance the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (UN Trafficking Protocol) and the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (UN Smuggling Protocol), both supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). It will further contribute to the implementation of the EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings (2012-2016), the Communication on its follow up of 4 December 2017 (COM(2017) 728), and the European Commission’s strategy to fight migrant smuggling, including enhanced cooperation and dialogue with priority third countries of transit and origin.

 

This new EU funded initiative will be implemented in partnership with up to five countries, including the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Discussions are also underway with the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The project will offer support to develop and implement comprehensive national and regional counter-trafficking and counter-smuggling responses. It covers strategy and policy development, legislative assistance, capacity-building, regional and trans-regional cooperation, and protection and assistance to victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, including children.

 

Who benefits?

 

  • Governmental authorities, including judicial, prosecutorial and law enforcement officials, and representatives of the legislative power and legal practitioners in the target countries.
  • Civil society organisations.
  • Other external partners.

 

5 pillars of intervention

 

  1. Strategy and policy development
  2. Legislative assistance
  3. Capacity-building
  4. Regional and international cooperation
  5. Protection and assistance to victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants

 

EU Contribution

EUR 12 million

Start-end

2018-2022

Location

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan.

Beneficiaries

The Iraqi population

Implementing partner

UNODC

Funding Instrument

Development and Cooperation Instrument