USAID and UN Collaborate to Strengthen Turkmenistan’s Civil Aviation Personnel
UN Holds Seminar on Preventing Illicit Trafficking in Central Asia’s Aviation Industry
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, in partnership with the USAID Safe Migration in Central Asia Program and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, organized a two-day training seminar in Ashgabat on February 19-20. The focus of the seminar was “Building the capacity of aviation industry personnel in the field of preventing and combating illicit trafficking in psychoactive substances and risks associated with human trafficking, terrorism and extremism.” The main objective was to enhance the capacity of aviation industry employees and equip them with the skills to identify and combat these crimes effectively.
The seminar introduced international best practices in combating illicit trafficking in psychoactive substances (PS) and human trafficking, providing the participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to detect and prevent potential security threats. UNOCT’s Counter Terrorist Travel (CT Travel) program was presented, outlining the use of Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Records (PNR), as well as the role of Passenger Information Units (PIUs) in preventing security threats.
Special attention was given to the role of airline personnel, including aviation security, ground control, and cabin crew, in identifying and addressing these crimes. Practical knowledge and methods for identifying victims of human trafficking and illegal trafficking in psychoactive substances were shared, along with recommendations for handling suspicious situations onboard aircraft.
The seminar also highlighted successful practices from other countries in combating illicit trafficking of psychoactive substances and human trafficking within the aviation industry. Participants discussed international standards and regulations related to the prevention and suppression of these crimes. Additionally, they were provided with the Guide on Anti-Trafficking in Persons, created by the International Civil Aviation Association, translated into Russian and Turkmen by the “Safe Migration in Central Asia” Program of the US Agency for International Development.
The manual aims to raise awareness of human trafficking and encourage airlines to train staff on recognizing and reporting potential human trafficking situations. As a result of the seminar, aviation industry employees gained new knowledge and tools to effectively combat illicit trafficking of psychoactive substances, human trafficking, terrorism, and extremism, contributing to the safety and security of the aviation industry and ensuring a safe travel experience for passengers.
