The National Commission organised an awareness-raising and training workshop to strengthen the capacities of media professionals, in partnership with UNODC

The National Commission for the Coordination of Measures to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings organised, in partnership with the Morocco office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), an awareness-raising and training workshop “To strengthen the capacities of media professionals in combating trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants” in Marrakech on 8 and 9 February 2024. As part of efforts to raise awareness, strengthen understanding and develop capacities in combating trafficking in human beings, the National Commission for the Coordination of Measures to Combat and Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings (CNCLT) organised, in partnership with UNODC, an awareness-raising and training workshop “To strengthen the capacities of media professionals in combating and preventing trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants”. The meeting took place over two days, on 8 and 9 February 2024, in the city of Marrakech. This activity forms part of the efforts undertaken under the supervision of the CNCLT, in application of the National Strategic Action Plan for Implementation 2023-2026, to ensure greater engagement of the media as a key actor in the prevention of, and awareness-raising about, the dangers of the crime of trafficking in human beings. The workshop aims to strengthen capacities and skills in combating trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants, through a sound command and a better understanding of the crimes of trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants, and the ability to distinguish between the two crimes. The workshop benefited representatives of a range of print and online media outlets as well as private radio stations, in partnership with the association “Ilamiyi Adala” (Association of Judicial Journalists), a body bringing together media professionals who, since the association’s creation in 2014, have worked on legal and human rights issues. This is in addition to its activities implementing projects that converge with the objectives pursued by institutions working in the fields of justice and human rights, by contributing to the training of journalists in areas related to the defence of rights and the dissemination of the principles of justice and equity, promoting a human rights culture in the media sphere, and organising seminars and training sessions in relevant fields. The themes of the workshop were led by national and international experts representing the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad (Department of Moroccans Residing Abroad), the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication (Department of Communication), the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Higher Institute of Information and Communication, and UNODC. The proceedings of the workshop resulted in the presentation of a set of recommendations aimed at translating the effective engagement of the media into raising public awareness of the dangers of the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings. The recommendations also highlighted the importance of reporting potential cases of victims within the framework of the implementation of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings.