Expert Worshop on Preventing, CombatingHuman Trafficking and Protecting Victims
21-01-2016 ~ 22-01-2016

The “TAIEX Expert Workshop on Combating and Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting its Victims” (hereinafter referred to as the Workshop) organized by the Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee and the European Union office to Hong Kong and Macau, and co-organized by the Academy of Public Security Forces(ESFSM), took place on 21-22 January 2016 at the Auditorium of the ESFSM and the Auditorium of the Health Bureau Executive Building. Three experts from the European Union were invited as keynote speakers (instructors).Through lectures and experience sharing of the instructors, the participants were able to grasp the latest trend of human trafficking crimes and corresponding countermeasures, as well as better understanding of the EU policies and best practices.

During the Workshop, the three speakers sharedthe EU mechanism to combat human trafficking, victim identification and interviewing techniques, measures to protect victims, the "Istanbul Protocol" guidelinefor medical staffs on handling trafficking victims, measures to prevent and combat forced labor, etc.

The trend of human trafficking crimes has always been the Macao SAR government ‘s concern,in order to proactively prevent and combat illegal activities related to human trafficking, relevant departments have launched a series of work and taken diversified measures in accordance with international strategy. Provision of trainings for frontline officers has always been the Macao Government’s focus regarding preventing and combating human trafficking, through this training and exchange program with the European Union, the Macao SAR is expected to elevate its technique to fight against human trafficking crimes and to implement victim protection measures, at the same time to enhance participants’ understanding towards EU’s effort and current practice.

The three EU experts were Colonel Gerald Tatzgernfrom the Central Service Combating Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking of the Austrian Federal Ministry ofInterior, Chief Superintendent WimBontinck from the Human Trafficking Central Unit of the Belgian Federal Judicial Police, and Prosecutor Manuel Eduardo from the Portuguese Attorney General’s Office, who is responsible for handling human traffickingcases. The Workshop was attended by approximately 170 participants from various law enforcement agencies, Legal Affairs Bureau, Labour Affairs Bureau, Human Resources Office, Social Welfare and Health Bureau.

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