Bamako – The Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of the Seals, Mahamadou KASSOGUE, chaired the official launch ceremony of the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2023-2027 in Bamako on Thursday 19 October 2023. The new document, drafted with the support of United Nations agencies (IOM and UNODC), aims to strengthen and pursue anti-trafficking interventions over the next five years in Mali. 

The National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2023-2027 was drafted by a sub-committee set up by the Malian authorities, with participation from the National Coordinating Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (CNCLTP/PA) and civil society actors. It takes account of the four priority areas of the fight against trafficking in persons, approved at international level, namely prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships. It will take over from the previous five-year action plan, which expires in 2022.

“My department will pay particular attention to the actions taken to implement this plan. All work streams must be identified as part of a global approach, taking into account prevention, particularly through awareness-raising and communication, partnerships between stakeholders, care for victims, repression as well as statistical data production,” highlighted Mahamadou KASSOGUE, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Keeper of the Seals.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supported the process of drafting the new document. “IOM has supported Mali, in particular by conducting a series of consultations and workshops involving all stakeholders working to combat trafficking in persons. This made it possible to assess the implementation of the 2018-2022 National Action Plan and define the strategic lines of the new document,” said Vanessa LEIGH, Programme and Liaison Coordinator a.i. at IOM Mali. 

“UNODC has supported Mali throughout the process of developing the action plan. Emphasis has been placed on the need for a criminal justice response to combat impunity through support for investigation and prosecution mechanisms for trafficking in persons, while promoting access to justice for victims,” added Annalisa PAUCIULLO, Regional Coordinator of the UNODC Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Unit (TIPSOM), Regional Office for West and Central Africa.

IOM’s support for the development of the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2023-2027 is part of the “Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships for Sustainable Solutions” (COMPASS) initiative. UNODC’s support for the process is a component of the PROMIS project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of West African countries to develop a human rights-based response to migrant smuggling and respond effectively to human rights violations associated with irregular migration. These two initiatives contribute to preventing, combating, and eliminating trafficking in persons in the field of international migration, with the financial support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“The orderly and humane management of migration is a priority for the Netherlands, particularly with regard to the fight against trafficking in persons. Given the substantial and encouraging results, the Netherlands remains committed to supporting Mali in the implementation of its national priorities,” said Roelof Van EES, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Dutch Embassy in Mali.

The Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA) supported by the European Union, has also planned activities that will contribute to the implementation of the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2023-2027 in Mali.

The support of the UN agencies IOM and UNODC for the launch of this document is in line with objective 10 of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, as well as targets 10.7 and 16.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals.  

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For more information, please contact:

IOM Mali Public Information Unit. E-mail: bquenum@iom.int, Tel.: +223 90 50 00 06

UNODC Regional Office for West and Central Africa - Communication and Media Office. E-mail: aissata.ba@un.org, Tel: +223 74 18 62 31