IOM and the Ethiopian Police University College (EPUC) have jointly organized a five-day training of trainers on the investigation of human trafficking cases in Ethiopia.

The training, which was held from 5 to 9 September in Sendafa (Oromia Region), and from 21 to 25 in Addis Ababa, Amhara, Oromia, Tgray and Southern Nations Nationalities People was attended by 130 EPUC regional State Police College instructors and regional State officials.

The workshop's aim was to build the capacity of EPUC and regional State Police College instructors to train other police officers to investigate human trafficking. The course provided trainees with key investigation techniques that can be put in place to prosecute perpetrators and protect victims. Participants are expected to train hundreds of other grass root investigators in their respective regions.

As part of a US government-funded counter trafficking project, IOM, the Federal Police and the EPUC have been developing a training manual and a curriculum on the investigation of human trafficking. IOM hired consultants to work with EPUC on the development of the training materials to reflect global best practices, as well as in the Ethiopian context.

A validation workshop was also organized with the aim to bring together Ethiopian government authorities and other partners to discuss and exchange views on the finalization of the training manual.

The training was part of a project: “Enhancing National Capacities and Corporation for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, Protection of Victims and Prosecution of Traffickers in Ethiopia” funded by the US government’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP).

For more  information, please contact Alemayehu Seifeselassie at IOM Ethiopia, Tel: +251.11. 6611117 (Ext. 455), Mobile: +251.91.163-9082 Email: salemayehu@iom.int