Within the South Programme IV and following the invitation of the authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Council of Europe has organised a second regional seminar Challenges of judicial cooperation in the fight against trafficking in human beings in the Mediterranean on 24-25 February.

Representatives of the governmental authorities and national institutions in the field of combating trafficking in human beings, as well as international experts and civil society representatives from different countries of the South Mediterranean have examined the ways of strengthening the judicial cooperation against trafficking in human beings in the region, recalling the relevant international legal tools serving as basis of this cooperation. A special focus was made on the operational ways of protection of victims and prosecution of perpetrators through the presentation of different partnership experiences in the field.

• The first day was dedicated to principles and norms of international anti-trafficking cooperation in the judicial field as well as to Cooperation for the protection and assistance of victims of trafficking in human beings.
• The second day was dedicated to cooperation for the prosecution of perpetrators of trafficking in human beings and to tools and bilateral cooperation experiences at regional and international level.

This Seminar is a follow-up of the first meeting held on 26 November 2020 which initiated the brainstorming on the establishment of structured and sustainable exchanges between countries of the region in their fight against trafficking in human beings, while mutualising their efforts. These initiatives are mainly aimed at strengthening the regional action against trafficking in human beings in the Southern Mediterranean.

The Council of Europe remains at the disposal of the beneficiaries of the South Programme IV to help implement the identified areas of regional cooperation. It should be recalled that the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is open to accession by non-member States of the Organisation. In addition, the Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) Programme of the Council of Europe is now extended to the Southern Mediterranean and provides an online course on combating trafficking in human being also available in Arabic.

 Agenda of the event

 

Useful ressources 

The Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals - HELP online platform

Compendium Combating trafficking in human beings: compilation of legal summaries and decisions of the European court of human rights (French-Arabic only)

 

The South Programme IV is a joint programme of the Council of Europe and the European Union, financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.