UN.GIFT Training in Costa Rica and Panama

30 March 2010.- Officers from different organizations dealing with human trafficking in Costa Rica and Panama participated in UN.GIFT training seminars. The seminars, were organized in cooperation with the national Governments to offer practical tools to those working on the front lines of law enforcement. The objective was to sensitize authorities about the human trafficking phenomenon, specific cases and the issues affecting the victims.

In Panama, 25 coast guards, immigration and police officers learned about special investigative and victim identification techniques, as well as aspects of the impact and trauma that human trafficking has on victims.

The seminar that took place in Costa Rica was attended by 26 officers from different areas such as immigration, investigation and intelligence, drug control, coast guard and the directorate for human trafficking. The participants had access to learning tools specifically designed to deal with victims and provide them with protection and assistance.

The UNODC, Panama Regional Crime Prevention Advisor, Troels Vester highlighted importance of coordination between authorities. "The fight against human trafficking demands participation of a significant number of national and international agencies", he said during the Costa Rica seminar.

Both training sessions were supported by the participation of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a member of the Steering Committee  of UN.GIFT; the US Government and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR. The course in Panama took place from 30 November to 4 December 2009 and the course in Costa Rica took place from 15-17 March 2010.