Higher Judicial Institute, IOM holds workshop on human trafficking

Damascus, SANA – A workshop on building capabilities of trainee judges to combat human trafficking was held at the Higher Judicial Institute on Tuesday.

The workshop, which was organized in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), put spotlight on human trafficking crime and the Syrian government’s efforts and procedures in terms of combating it.

The participants discussed different forms of trafficking in human beings and the laws and legislations issued in Syria to illustrate this phenomenon, particularly the legislative decree no.3 for 2010 which gives special attention to women and children and aims at boosting international cooperation to fight those who are involved in those crimes.

Professor of Penal Code at Damascus University Dr. Issa al-Mkhawel highlighted the crime of recruiting children and forcing them to take part in wars and conflicts, citing the flagrant violations committed by the armed terrorist organizations against children in Syria.

In turn, Director of Combating Human Trafficking Department at the Interior Ministry Hassan Ma’rouf reviewed procedures and efforts exerted by the Syrian government and the ministry to scale down and gradually put an end to this illegal act.

Legal Consultant and Protection official at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Hala Barbara noted that the crime of human trafficking is cross-border and committed by a group of people from different countries who exploit chaos and the absence of law to target others, particularly women and children.

She referred to a plenty of news articles and reports published by the Syrian media and international organizations that have exposed children recruitment and women trafficking, praising the Syrian government’s efforts and special attention given to fighting this crime.

Rasha Raslan/Haifa Said

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