Tehran – The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the support of Asian Mayors Forum (AMF), organized a two-day international workshop at the ECO Secretariat in Tehran on “Combating Trafficking in Persons and Human Smuggling in the ECO Region.” 

The workshop, held on 29-30 July 2024, brought together high-level government officials from ECO Member States, including Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from ECO, IOM and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

The workshop aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences between the representatives of ECO Member States, civil societies and international organizations. 

“We, as the UN, will continue working closely with our partners to prevent more children from falling victim to this crime and to protect and assist those who already have,” said Lalini Veerassamy, IOM Chief of Mission in Iran. “As the leading agency that has been engaged in the fight against trafficking for more than two decades, IOM remain committed to ending human trafficking and keeping victims and survivors at the centre of our work.”   

During the workshop, participants discussed common challenges and shared their views on best practices in countering trafficking and the smuggling of migrants in the region and globally. The discussion covered legislative and operational frameworks, recent trends and statistics, and national strategies. Emphasis was placed on combating human trafficking and providing protection and services to trafficking victims, particularly children.  

Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Secretary General of ECO, stated, "The objective of this two-day workshop is to set up a regional law enforcement agency among ECO Member States." 

In addition to the workshop, a networking reception and cultural event was held, featuring a music band from Sistan and Baluchistan. The event also showcased handicrafts and products from various artistic groups across Iran. During the reception, Veerassamy introduced Elika Abdolrazaghi as IOM Iran’s special advocate for this special workshop. She highlighted the importance of raising awareness and educating people on issues related to human trafficking, especially the less visible aspects. 
 
This regional workshop was the largest gathering of ECO Member States on this issue so far. It has laid the foundation for future efforts and collaborations among the Member States to eliminate human trafficking and migrant smuggling. 

For more information, please contact Nima Karimi at IOM Iran – Email: nimkarimi@iom.int