UNODC and IOM jointly organized on 11 June 2020 an online national consultation with the aim to specifically address the country’s criminal justice response to Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in times of COVID-19 and beyond. The event was organized in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. 

Reitering the importance of a human rights and gender-sensitive Nasima Begum ndc, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh said, “human rights must be at the centre of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusive measures aimed at protecting the rights and health of the whole population, including all migrants and trafficked persons, regardless of their migration status, are urgent and necessary.” 

Mia Seppo, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary, Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Abu Bakr Siddique, Additional Secretary, Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh, Mr. Giorgi Gigauri, Chief of Mission, IOM, Mr. Sergey Kapinos, Representative, UNODC spoke at the consultation.