18 out of enrolled 20 journalists and reporters completed the second and final online training session (6-7 October 2020) on how to report about human trafficking cases in a fact-based and victim-respectful manner. The training which sparked great interest among the journalists, was delivered by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Association of Journalists for Human Rights.
“The training was very interactive, we worked on concepts of media stories and commented media reports regarding trafficking in human beings. I realised how important is to respect the victim identity and vulnerability and not seek for sensation only”. – said Simona Mitrovska, one of the journalists who participated in the training.
During the discussions and presentations, the journalists had the opportunity to learn more about the distinction between trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants, cases of human trafficking and forms of human exploitation in North Macedonia, increased risks of trafficking caused by COVID-19 pandemics.
“The training helped me understand how to recognise that a person may be a potential victim of human trafficking. I was happy to learn more about the CoE Convention on action against trafficking in human beings and its monitoring mechanism.” – said Irena Beleshovska another participant from among the journalists.
“Trafficking in human beings can happen everywhere and to anyone. Even educated persons who are well – off can fall prey to organised crime gangs earning high profits from human trafficking. It is the role of the journalists to raise public awareness about dangers of trafficking in human beings” – said Elena Petreska, the trainer from ICMPD.
At the occasion of the European Anti-trafficking day, the 18th of October, the journalists will have an exchange of experiences with the National anti-trafficking Commission and the National Coordinator, in regard to the efforts in the fight against human trafficking and helping the victims of human trafficking
This training was organised as a part of the action” Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in North Macedonia” under “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, a co-operation initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, which aims at assisting beneficiaries in South-East Europe to comply with the Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process.
