Banjul – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, supported The Gambia Ministry of Interior (MoI) to organize a one-day sensitization workshop (7/06) on the newly developed National Migration Policy at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Banjul. Representatives from various ministries and civil society organizations, including the National Youth Council (NYC), the Gambia Refugee Commission, the Gambia Tourism Board and the Women’s Bureau participated in the event.

The workshop aimed at sharing information regarding the National Migration Policy developed by The Gambia Ministry of Interior and ensuring alignment with the African Union (AU) migration management framework (“The Protocol”), including migration and development and diaspora engagement in country’s development plan.

“Free movement of persons as well as goods and services in Africa is an essential element for deepening continental integration and unity and this will be achieved through the establishment and review of laws, policies and procedures that promote free movement in conformity with The Protocol,” said Mr. Bulli Dibba, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior in his welcoming remarks.

During the workshop, participants were introduced to the Global and Regional frameworks for migration management such as the AU new Free Movement of Persons Protocol adopted in January 2018. Mr. Dibba and Ms. Claudia Natali, IOM Labour mobility specialist highlighted the key role that labor mobility and diaspora engagement have in the development of Africa.

“There’s a need to consider backing the policy with legislature in order to protect rights of migrants, prohibit acts such as human smuggling and trafficking in persons” said Mr. Madi Jobarteh, Program Manager of The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO), while suggesting guidelines and practices that can be employed to improve protection and assistance for migrants.

“The workshop today provides an important platform for stakeholders to review the National Migration Policy of The Gambia, specifically on key migration and development strategic areas in line with the ECOWAS and African Union Frameworks. The sensitization workshop aims to ensure that the Migration Policy is in harmony with intra-regional cooperation in matters concerning migration, on the basis of established processes of migration at the regional and sub-regional levels.” said Ms. Fumiko Nagano, IOM’s Chief of Mission.

The workshop was funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in the framework of the project “Bridging together youth, diaspora and local authorities for an integrated approach to promote employment and address irregular migration in The Gambia, Guinea Conakry and Guinea Bissau”.

For more information, please contact Marianna Bertelle, at IOM Gambia; Tel: +2202169647, Email: mbertelle@iom.int