Tunisia has recommended the establishment of a regional referral mechanism and a regional center for the prosecution of criminals in human trafficking named "Trafficking Pol", similar to Interpol, said the president of the National Body for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Raoudha Labidi.

The proposal was made during the Regional Simulation on Referral of Victims of Human Trafficking in the Southern Mediterranean held on October 22-29 in Valletta, Malta.

The event, called "Human Trafficking on Migration Routes", was the first large-scale regional simulation exercise organized by the Council of Europe in the context of its joint programs with the European Union and in partnership with Malta's government. It was aimed at improving the coordination, detection and referral of trafficking victims on migration routes.

Project to create regional training center presented

Labidi recalled that the authority, representing Tunisia at the conference, also presented a project to create a regional training center to fight human trafficking, which is in its final stages. She said its completion should be announced by the end of the year.

Labidi stressed that the main objective of the program is to establish links with African countries affected by human trafficking, and to coordinate regional efforts to combat the phenomenon.

It is also aimed at creating a favorable context to establish channels and mechanisms aimed at solving problems linked to trafficking.

Calls to boost regional cooperation, joint programs

Participants at the event called for the consolidation of regional cooperation and partnership in combating human trafficking, in particular by strengthening joint programs and activities and sharing information and experiences, according to a statement issued at the end of the conference.

The event brought together more than 100 participants and experts, including representatives of governments, the judiciary, law enforcement, social and medical services, labor inspectorates, civil society and the media from Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Portugal, Switzerland, Tunisia and the UK.