Awareness and understanding of human trafficking amongst the public is very important for Papua New Guinea.
A three-day workshop on Human Trafficking Victim identification & SOP Implementation Training conducted by the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the Department of Justice and Attorney General identified cases of human trafficking in PNG following recent increase of trafficking in the country.
Officer in Charge for Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Joe Puana said the workshop is an eye opener for police as what was covered by IOM trainers “were some things that we didn’t think was related to human trafficking or smuggling”.
“The RPNGC officers who took part in this workshop have learnt a lot from this meet as such incidents do occur but due to lack of knowledge and understanding, they are over looked, Puana says”.
He adds that through presentations, international films, panel discussions and interactive games, we have learned that human trafficking globally is a billion dollar industry through which victims are exploited and subjected to severe physical, psychological and sexual abuse.
“This will help us greatly in recognizing the signs and move in the direction of helping those in need for such cases of trafficking and people smuggling.”
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Department of Justice & Attorney General (DJAG) have been working in partnership on human trafficking in Papua New Guinea since 2010 and will continue counter-trafficking workshops.
IOM and DJAG also honored NCD participants who completed training on human trafficking by presenting certificates of completion to workshop participants..
12 participants from the Criminal Investigations Division and prosecution took part in the three day workshop which had started on Tuesday and ended yesterday.