Niamey – As part of Niger’s National Day Against Human Trafficking celebrated each year on September 28, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Niger’s National Agency for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Illicit Trafficking of Migrants (ANLTP/TIM), launched the country’s first National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking.

Niger is an important country of origin, transit, and destination for migrants who are often deceived by smugglers and traffickers about their final destination and the financial opportunities awaiting them. Many become easy prey for human trafficking and are subjected to different risks along their journeys, ranging from forced labor to physical abuse and sexual exploitation.

Since March 2015 and the validation of the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking (2014-2018), the establishment of a national referral mechanism for victims of trafficking was identified as a strategic objective for the Agency.  

Supported by the United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) through the project “Enhancing capacities to fight trafficking in persons (TIP) in Niger”, the newly-launched mechanism aims to enhance the coordination between relevant state representatives, international organizations, civil society actors, and administrative and traditional authorities.

The end goal of the referral mechanism and its accompanying stakeholder mapping is to strengthen national policies and ultimately improve the protection of victims of trafficking and their fundamental rights. To that end, the document delves into the procedures and relevant actors for access to justice for victims of trafficking, the different stages of the referral mechanism, the criminal proceedings, as well as their return and reintegration.

“Victims of trafficking are subjected to abhorrent treatments no one should ever have to endure. It is essential to preserve their dignity and ease their suffering by offering them access to justice and the best possible return and reintegration in their country or region of origin,” said Barbara Rijks, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Niger. “The referral mechanism launched today is a significant achievement for Niger and for the protection of victims of trafficking across the country and beyond.”

As part of the launch of the referral mechanism, IOM supported a conference on the trafficking of children and child labor, a significant challenge for the country, during which the referral mechanism was presented as an evidence of progress for the country’s improved victim support. The conference was attended by more than two hundred people and brought together several key partners and institutions, including government authorities, security forces, and NGOs.

“The very goal of today’s ceremony is to sensitize the population to the root causes and the grave consequences of trafficking in persons while promoting the national mechanism in place for ensuring the protection of victims of trafficking,” declared Mr. Marou Adamou, Niger’s Minister of Justice, in his opening speech.

In addition to the conference, IOM and ANLTP/TIM organized between 29-30 September a Training of Trainers (ToT) to allow 30 ANLTP/TIM staff and key stakeholders from civil society and other ministries to familiarize themselves with the mechanism and to understand the roles and responsibilities of the various actors in the victim protection chain.

With IOM’s support, the Government of Niger opened last year the country’s first reception center for victims of trafficking, based in the region of Zinder. Several other training sessions are planned for frontline workers based in Zinder and Niamey, to ensure that they can properly integrate the national referral mechanism into their practices. Additionally, two TV debates in local languages ​​(Hausa and Zarma) on the national law related to different forms human trafficking, including slavery, were organized, recorded, and broadcasted.

For more information, please contact Monica Chiriac at IOM Niger at Tel: +227 8931 8764, Email: mchiriac@iom.int.