How to cover the trafficking problems, how to communicate with the victim
Arzuman Harutyunyan, Chairman of the “Association of Audio-Visual Journalists” NGO, has observed that the coverage of human trafficking and exploitation and support to victims by media is simple at first glance but actually it is a matter containing many nuances. These are problems of permanent discussions and anyone can become a victim of forced labor both in his own country and abroad. The training session organized in Aghveran by the “Association of Audio-Visual Journalists” NGO in support of the US State Department was dedicated to the RA Law on “Identification and assistance to people affected by human trafficking and exploitation” and its awareness. The attendees included representatives from the RA Police, the RA Investigation Committee, ministries of foreign affairs, labor and social affairs, as well as experts from “Hope and Help,” “UMCOR Armenia,” NGOs. The opening remarks were made by the Head of the Working Group on Combating Trafficking, Vahram Kazhoyan, and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Program Coordinator of the US Department of State, Maritza Hovhannisyan. As informed by David Tumasyan, Associate Professor, Senior Investigator for Particularly Important Cases at RA Investigative Committee, also a member of the Anti-Trafficking working group, in 2015, 14 criminal cases against human trafficking was filed at the RA Investigative Committee. The proceeding investigated 21 cases, of which 7 were transferred from 2014.
According to him, the main victims of trafficking from Armenia were in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russian Federation and Sri Lanka. D. Tumasyan addressed the concepts of human trafficking and exploitation and the problems of defending the personal data of the people and victims exposed to exploitation, “When a material is published, the person’s identification data should not be submitted, to label him and create an atmosphere, which can affect the person’s fate in the future,” he said. Tumasyan. Note that under the project on the “Development of an Anti-trafficking information platform in Armenia” project, the “Audio-Visual Association for Journalists” NGO implements a mini-project in the form of a presentation. It is aimed at educating, guiding and helping the media representatives (cameramen, photographers, sound specialists) to work with the victims of trafficking.
Ruzan MINASYAN
“Aravot”
