31.05.2019

The event was organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Azerbaijan within the project "Strengthening National Capacities in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Azerbaijan" by embassies of the US, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Lithuania, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, the Ministry of Interior, and officials from the Ministries of Social Protection of the Population, the State Committee for Family and Women Affairs, the State Migration Service, and the IOM.

At the opening of the seminar, Chief of the Main Department on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Police General-Major, Heydar Heydarov, Head of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Faig Bagirov, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Ambassador made speeches.

Chief of the Main Department on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Major-General of Police, Heydar Heydarov, said that due to the strong political will of the State of Azerbaijan, institutional reforms were implemented in line with international standards in the fight against human trafficking.

At the seminar, Lieutenant-Colonel Ilkin Gurbanov, Head of the division at the Main Department on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, made a presentation on Azerbaijan's experience in combating human trafficking.

Among the topics discussed were the difficulties in coordination among relevant government agencies on information exchange and best practices, enhancement awareness of diplomatic missions in embassies, and the Embassies' assistance to victims of trafficking in their destination countries.

Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Vladimir Gjorgjiyev, Head of the IOM Office in Azerbaijan, as well as other participants of the event highly appreciated the efforts, partnership, and cooperation of the Government of Azerbaijan.