4.9 Centre in Ashgabat Austria, aimed to enhance participants’ practical abilities in detecting forged documents and imposters, by providing indepth knowledge and conducting hands-on exercises. From 24 to 28 July, the Centre, together with the UNDPimplemented EU-BOMNAF project, organized a second joint training event for border officials from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The six-day joint training course in Ashgabat brought together ten representatives from the State Border Service of Turkmenistan with nine representatives from Afghan Border Police and two Afghan Customs officers, most of whom work on the Turkmen-Afghan borders. During the training, the participants discussed and shared their experiences and views on common border security and customs issues. International trainers from Belarus, the UK and South Africa delivered presentations on CounterTerrorism and implications for human rights, new customs control methods and international systems. Representatives from UNODC and the EU BOMCA project also delivered presentations. From 15 and 21 October, the Centre organized a study visit to Belgium for six officials from the Canine Center of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan. The delegation visited the Canine Directorate and the Dog Training Centre of the Federal Police of the Kingdom of Belgium, near Brussels. The purpose of the visit was for the officials to get acquainted with best practices related to the operation of the canine centres, the care and breeding of the dogs, as well as training on the detection of narcotics, weapons and explosives. From 30 October to 4 November, the Centre conducted a training course for 14 trainers and team leaders of the State Border Service on Tactical Patrolling in Mountain Settings at the training Centre in Baharly. The training was developed to strengthen patrolling capacities in winter and in mountainous environments, including rescue operations. From 6 to 9 and 10 to 13 November, the Centre organized two special training sessions for canine officers from the State Border Service of Turkmenistan. Two experts from the Ministry of Interior of Belarus trained 13 canine officers at the K9 Center of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan near Ashgabat on best practices on how to train dogs in identifying narcotics, weapons and explosives. The training sessions were conducted as a follow-up to a study tour to Belgium, which was organized by the Centre in October 2017. Particular attention was also given to issues related to dog breeding, operation of the training centre and veterinarian treatment of animals. 110 From 13 to 18 November, the Centre organized special training on tactical patrolling in desert conditions. One OSCE expert from the UK trained 14 mid-level officers at the training centre of the State Border Service in Baharly on patrolling methodologies and situational analysis, as well as survival skills in the desert. The experts also discussed rapid response units designed to meet unexpected contingencies. From 20 to 24 November and 27 November to 1 December, the Centre assisted the Aviation Security Service of the Ashgabat International airport with two one-week training courses on security procedures at aviation checkpoints and analysis of X-ray images. These two courses were delivered to a total of 55 aviation security personnel from airports all over the country. The training covered searching of baggage and vehicles and the use of x-Ray machines for detecting explosive and prohibited items. Fighting corruption and the integrity of the security officer were also addressed during the training programme. As a follow-up, computer equipment and related software was provided to set up a specialized training room for self-training of aviation security personnel at the International Airport in Ashgabat. From 27 November to 23 December, the Centre organized a Basic Border Patrolling Course and an Advanced Border Patrolling Course for 14 mid-rank officers at the Training Centre of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan in Baharden (formerly known as Baharly). Two experts from Estonia and the UK led the training on basic patrolling covering map reading, identification of trespassers and countering trafficking of human beings, weapons and narcotics, as well as on identifying FTFs. On 29 and 30 November, three officials from the State Border Service of Turkmenistan participated in a seminar on Delimitation and Demarcation Practices in the OSCE area in Minsk. The seminar was organized by TNTD/BMSU. Trafficking in Human Beings & Migration-related Crime On 3 and 4 April, the Centre took part and facilitated the participation of representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Turkmenistan in the 17th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference entitled “Trafficking in Children and the Best Interests of the Child”, which took place in Vienna, Austria. On 10 April, the Centre took part in a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Human Trafficking issues organized by the local office of the International Organization for Migration in Ashgabat with the aim of co-ordinating activities and projects implemented in the field of combating THB in Turkmenistan.