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585181 Participants in an OSCE training-for-trainers course on identifying forged documents and imposters in Chișinău, 29 January 2025. Communication and Media Relations Section

From 27 to 31 January, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department held a training-of-trainers course for the Moldova Border Police and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) in Chișinău, Moldova. The event focused on developing the instructional skills of the seven participating border officers so that they may conduct future training within their national services on identifying forged documents and imposters at border crossing points. This is the first joint training-of-trainers course on this topic for the neighbouring participating States.

Moldova shares a 1,222 km border with Ukraine and has seen over 1.2 million border crossings since February 2022, the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. This significant rise in crossings has led to an increased workload for border officers in both Moldova and Ukraine, who have also noticed a greater variety of travel documents being presented. Given this reality, fostering joint border control operations has become a central focus to enhance connectivity and streamline cross-border travel.

During the interactive training session, which was conducted by two document experts from Greece and two from the Main Forensic Centre of the SBGS, participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on evidence-based adult learning techniques and tips to conduct concise, resource-efficient training sessions at the beginning of shifts. Additionally, good practices for developing tailored training programmes were reviewed. Equipped with enhanced knowledge, the participants will return to their respective services able to train their colleagues on key security features in travel documents.

This training course marked the third step in the training cycle, in which every participant had previously completed basic and advanced courses in September 2024. The next and final step will be a study visit in 2026 to disseminate good practices and further enhance the trainers’ knowledge of new technologies in detecting forged documents and imposters at border crossing points.

The training was part of an ongoing project supporting the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing the illegal crossing of borders by using a fake or stolen identity. This project is generously funded by the United States of America.

Le président de l'Assemblée nationale, Louis Vlavonou a réagi après l'attaque meurtrière qui a coûté la vie à plusieurs soldats béninois le mercredi 8 janvier 2025. Louis Vlavonou a exprimé ses condoléances aux familles des victimes et à leurs proches. Le chef du Parlement béninois a également réitéré l'engagement de l'institution qu'il préside à accompagner le gouvernement dans le renforcement des moyens nécessaires pour protéger efficacement les populations et garantir la stabilité du pays.

Le message de Louis G. Vlavonou

Je tiens à exprimer ma profonde douleur et ma grande consternation suite à l'attaque meurtrière perpétrée contre nos vaillantes forces de défense et de sécurité dans la zone frontalière nord de notre pays, le 8 janvier 2025.
Mes pensées vont avant tout aux familles des soldats tombés, à leurs proches, et à leurs frères d'armes qui, au péril de leur vie, assurent la sécurité et la souveraineté de notre chère patrie. Leur sacrifice ne sera jamais vain, et la Nation toute entière leur est reconnaissante.
Nous devons, plus que jamais, rester unis, solidaires et déterminés à soutenir nos forces armées dans leur mission sacrée de défense du territoire national. L'Assemblée nationale réaffirme son engagement à accompagner le Gouvernement dans le renforcement des moyens nécessaires pour protéger efficacement nos populations et garantir la stabilité de notre pays.
Que ces pertes en vies humaines ravivent en chacun de nous l'esprit de patriotisme et la nécessité de demeurer vigilant et engagé pour un Bénin fort, résilient et en paix.
Reposez en paix, héros de la République !