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Updated: 04-Aug-2004 NATO Policy document

Policy document

9 July 2004

NATO Guidance
for the development of training and educational programmes
to support the policy on combating the trafficking in human beings

Official texts

NATO Policy On Combating Trafficking In Human Beings

1.Training and creating awareness are key elements to ensure the successful implementation of this policy. In particular, training will provide information required to identify trafficking and will put military and civilian personnel on notice of consequences for engaging in trafficking.

2. Two different kinds of training to be offered by NATO and national training institutions are envisaged for the implementation of the present policy:

  1. a general module, aimed at the personnel (military or civilian) to be employed in a NATO operation, with a twofold focus :
    • outline the characteristics of trafficking in human beings; and
    • summarise the national and international legal provisions which punish those who engage in trafficking in human beings, or facilitate it;
  2. specific modules, aimed at all those categories of personnel who have specific responsibilities, either under national legislation or under the present policy, to police the behaviour of personnel or take specific actions to combat trafficking.

3. The general module will need to include, as a minimum, the following elements:

  1. background information on the trafficking phenomenon, its origins, its victims, its perpetrators (organised crime) and an overview of the purposes for which human beings are trafficked including those links which exist between trafficking and the illegal sex industry;
  2. if the training is imparted in a pre-deployment context, an outline of the specific instances of trafficking to which personnel might be confronted in the deployment area from a security perspective. In this respect, training would address how trafficking in human beings supports other elements of organised crime that present a threat to the mission;
  3. guidelines to detect instances of trafficking or identify trafficked people, and how to deal with such events (reporting, actions to be taken, etc.); and
  4. a summary of the legal provisions affecting those who engage in trafficking or facilitate it.

4. The specific modules will contain, as a minimum, the following elements:

  1. For commanders and supervisors: how to deal with reports concerning involvement of their subordinates in trafficking and what measures to take; and
  2. For military police units which are part of national contingents: how to investigate allegations of involvement in trafficking by members of their national contingent, with specific focus on the sensitive aspects of such an investigation, such as victim identification and protection.

5. To ensure the greatest effectiveness training modules should:

  1. be provided to all levels of military and civilian personnel;
  2. include information tailored to the specific situation/requirement of the target audience;
  3. be developed with input from anti-trafficking experts of international and non-governmental organisations with experience in combating trafficking;
  4. where feasible focus on “train the trainers” events to ensure the dissemination of appropriate information at all levels;
  5. should include case studies, interactive methods of training; and
  6. make use of distance and computer based training.

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