Amman – On the 12th  October, 2021, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) in Jordan organized a Regional Dialogue on “Counter-trafficking Response in the Levant region: challenges and opportunities”, under the patronage of the Minister of Justice of Jordan, H.E Dr. Ahmad Nouri Ziadat, and with the support of the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) within the framework of IOM’s project “Preventing Conflict-Driven Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Ensuring a Protection-Sensitive Approach Across the Levant (ATIP-LEVANT)”.  

The two-day regional dialogue brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners from governments, as well as civil society, academia, UN agencies and other partners working to respond to trafficking in persons in humanitarian contexts.

Participants had the opportunity to share information about existing initiatives to implement Objectives 10 of the Global Compact on Migration across the globe including in the Levant region focusing to Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration. Progress and challenges in implementing the regional framework SOPs were discussed. The aim was to strengthen cooperation between counter-trafficking and humanitarian actors to better identify and protect victims of trafficking and identify gaps in responses and reflect on the range of actions, resources, and partnerships required to further reinforce the prevention of the crime as well as the identification, referral, and assistance of victims of trafficking in the Levant region.

“This dialogue is an opportunity to exchange experiences with countries from the region and discuss ways forward to cooperate in fighting this crime” stated H.E Dr. Saad Allouzi Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice in Jordan.

“The U.S. Department of State funded and supported this IOM program because we believe each of us should do what we can to stop traffickers and protect victims,” stated by the U.S. Embassy Senior Refugee Coordinator, Mr. Robert McInturff.

“Jordan and the world are facing many challenges, but we continue to work together and fight trafficking in persons.” said Tajma Kurt, Chief of Mission of IOM Jordan “Today, I have the honor and pleasure to initiate this important dialogue.  For many years, IOM has worked closely and collaboratively with the Government of Jordan’s Ministry of Justice – a regional pioneer in combating trafficking in persons- this dialogue represents only one pillar in a longstanding and fruitful partnership.”

“Strengthening prevention and protection efforts requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. It needs a whole-of-government approach to ensure cooperation across all sectors of government; a whole-of-society approach to promote multi-stakeholder partnerships, and international collaboration”, emphasized Mr Mathieu Luciano, Head of Office of IOM Lebanon.

The event concluded with series of recommendations that aim at creating an enabling environment to prevent human trafficking, rescue and restore human dignity of victims.

This action was made possible thanks to the IOM teams in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and with the support of the Migrants Protection and Assistance Senior Regional Thematic Specialist in Cairo, the regional office in Vienna as well as IOM Migrants Protection and Assistance department in Headquarter.

For more information, please contact Ms. Dima Haddad – Project Officer – ATIP Levant Regional Project – IOM Lebanon at dihaddad@iom.int.