Burundi - The UN Migration Agency (IOM), in partnership with the Government of Burundi, has conducted a series of training sessions for 100 law enforcement officers on understanding, investigating and preventing human trafficking and identifying and supporting victims.

The three training sessions, in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, aimed to equip frontline police officers with essential counter-trafficking knowledge and skills. Led by IOM’s African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC), the trainings covered trafficking and smuggling, and how they differ, and provisions of international and national laws on human trafficking. They also focused on investigation techniques, including the detection of fraudulent documents, and victim identification, referral, protection and assistance.

Burundi is “a source country” for trafficked persons according to the US Trafficking in Persons Report, where adults and children are coerced into forced labour, domestic servitude, prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation throughout the region and elsewhere in the world.

“Factors including impoverishment, displacement, unemployment and severe climate events in Burundi all contribute to opportunities for traffickers to exploit vulnerable people,” said Kristina Mejo, IOM Burundi Chief of Mission. 

The police officers at the training were briefed on an ongoing IOM awareness raising campaign aimed at informing vulnerable populations about the risks of human trafficking and how to avoid being lured into exploitative situations. IOM trainers distributed communications materials to participants, including posters and flyers for use at 17 border posts, police stations and other law enforcement offices.

The recent training sessions for law enforcement officers in Burundi build on a first round of counter- trafficking training for government officials last year.

“IOM is pleased to continue working with the Government of Burundi and partners on the fight against human trafficking and helping inform Burundians of the ills of irregular migration,” said Mejo.

The training sessions were carried out with funding from the Government of Belgium as part of a larger project to promote peace and community dialogue and prevent violent conflict and irregular migration.

For further information, please contact Niamh McEvoy at IOM Burundi, Tel: +257 75400339, Email: nmcevoy@iom.int