CEPOL presents in Brussels how it contributes to the fight against human trafficking

This week, the Executive Director of CEPOL, Montserrat Marín López participated in the meeting of the EU Network of National Rapporteurs and Equivalent Mechanisms on trafficking in human beings (Brussels, 25-26 April), accompanied by the CEPOL Liaison Officer and the CEPOL Research and Knowledge Management Officer.

Taking the floor at the session on cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination, she had the opportunity to explain how CEPOL supports the fight against human trafficking (THB) and provide an overview of the work delivered by the agency, including the training activities offered within the scope of the agency’s four externally funded projects (CT INFLOW, EUROMED Police, TOPCOP and WB PaCT).

To become operationally successful across borders, law enforcement officials require specialised training at EU level, particularly when it comes to human trafficking, where cooperation with the victims is key for effective prosecutions. Training facilitates communication between all parties and encourages joint actions

noted Ms. Marin López, and added:

In line with our new CEPOL strategy and in order to respond to emerging needs, we are continuously updating our training offer, so that law enforcement officials are better prepared to combat this heinous crime.

Sharing best practices among participants, encouraging the building of networks and further cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination constitute an integral part of the CEPOL THB learning programmes. This cooperation is studied from the perspective of new and emerging trends, cross-border operational cooperation, effective investigation techniques as well as the early identification, the safeguard and the protection of victims.

In addition to law enforcement officials of EU member States, CEPOL regularly invites law enforcement officials from 3^rd countries, being primarily countries of origin and transit, to take part in such training activities.  This also applies to different components of the CEPOL Exchange Programme, i.e. the International Cooperation Exchange Programme, which enables to build trusted and equal partnerships with law enforcement officials from the EU’s Neighbourhood countries.

In order to ensure high quality products, dedicated training sessions and study materials are delivered by  the most relevant experts, such as key EMPACT stakeholders, the Driver and Action Leaders, EU Commission, Justice and Home Affairs’ agencies, as well as Member States’ competent services and NGOs from different countries, involved in all stages of the trafficking process.

With the aim of continuously improving its learning programmes, this year CEPOL launched its first blended learning package focusing on trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the digital age. The blended training package is part of the specific actions pursued by the new CEPOL Strategy 2023-2027, adopted by the Management Board in November 2022. It is multi-step activity, consisting of three training activities that build on each other, open for law enforcement officials from MS and non-EU countries.

CEPOL’s Law Enforcement Education Platform, LEEd offers registered users a variety of self-paced training opportunities covering different aspects of THB. More information on this year’s training activities is available in the CEPOL Training Catalogue 2023.