Representatives of Turkmenistan’s Interdepartmental Working Group on the development and implementation of the National Action Plans on Combatting Trafficking in Persons visited the Republic of Belarus from 26 June to 2 July 2024 to learn the experience of Belarus in combating human trafficking.

The delegation of Turkmenistan met with the representatives of the Department for Citizenship and Migration and the Main Department for Drug Control and Combating Trafficking in Persons of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus. Members of the delegation were also exposed to the activities of the International Training Center of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Life Safety Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, the operations of the “hotline” run by the national NGO "Business Women's Club" and the Rehabilitation Center of the International Organization for Migration for victims of human trafficking as well as the activities of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus on identification of victims of human trafficking at the entry and exit from the country at the Minsk national airport.

During the meetings, the emphasis was placed on the implementation of the National Mechanism for Identification and Referral of Victims of Trafficking in Persons. The delegation of Turkmenistan was presented with practical aspects of work of law enforcement agencies, social and non-governmental organizations within the framework of the National Mechanism for Identification and Referral of Victims of Trafficking in Persons, including prevention, identification, interception and investigation of cases of trafficking in persons, many of which are already being committed in cyberspace.

The experience of Belarus in countering human trafficking will be taken into account by Turkmenistan stakeholders in implementing the new National Action Plan on Combatting Trafficking in Persons, which is currently being finalized with the support of IOM Turkmenistan.

The visit was held within the IOM Turkmenistan project “Strengthening the legal framework on trafficking in persons in Turkmenistan to better address the needs of youth and women through a survivor-centered approach”.