International Seminar for Judges Opens in Haifa

A high-level International Seminar for Judges on “The Critical Role of the Judiciary in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings” was recently inaugurated under the auspices of MASHAV.

Participants in the opening of the International Seminar
for Judges

 The seminar is jointly organized by MASHAV and the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center, in cooperation with: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); the International Organization for Migration (IOM); the Institute of Advanced Judicial Studies, Jerusalem; and the Anti-trafficking Unit at the Israeli Ministry of Justice.

Judges play a central role in combating trafficking in persons. Beyond deciding upon the guilt or innocence of alleged perpetrators and sentencing considerations, judges also make key decisions on the interpretation of trafficking laws and the evidence required establishing the crime. These decisions are critical to the overall success of anti-trafficking efforts.

The opening ceremony of the high-level seminar took place in Haifa (October 27th). Keynote speaker was Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, Special Representative Coordinator for Trafficking in Human Beings, OSCE. Head of MASHAV Ambassador Gil Haskel addressed the distinguished guests and said that given the transnational nature of the crime, international cooperation is needed to tackle this transgression.

Head of MASHAV Ambassador Gil Haskel during the official opening of  

the International Seminar for Judges, Haifa

 This 4-day international seminar for judges will provide participants with a platform to exchange their experiences and ideas from the different perspectives of countries of origin, destination and transit and to share Israeli and international experts' best practices, programs and methodologies. Furthermore, it is hoped that it will contribute towards establishing a network of judges and/or judicial training officials to nurture cross-border collaboration and exchange of information in the common fight against human trafficking.