Freetown- On 27th March, the Government of Sierra Leone, Mano River Union, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) concluded a three-day Sub-Regional Anti-trafficking expert meeting in Freetown.

During the 3 days, experts discussed the prosecution of traffickers, regional coordination mechanisms, Trafficking In Persons (TIPs) impacts on regional security, Civil Society Organization networks and regional response efforts, and children on the move and regional interventions. This technical expert meeting is the first sub-regional dialogue on trafficking in persons coordinated by the Mano River Union secretariat and IOM. An action plan for the sustainable management of Trafficking in Persons across the region is the deliverable of this regional dialogue.

In her keynote address, the Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Baindu Dassama stated that” Sierra Leone has made progress in tackling trafficking as it has enacted the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act of 2022, which has tougher punishments for perpetrators.

She further stated that “today, we will take our anti-trafficking efforts a step further by collaborating with sister States in the MRU sub-region to tackle cross-border trafficking. Today, we will share with our colleague Anti-Trafficking Task Force members in Guinea, Liberia, and Ivory Coast some of our counter-trafficking efforts and propose how political commitment could help reduce incidents of human trafficking and irregular migration on our common borders.

The Head of Office a.i, IOM Sierra Leone, Christos Christodoulides whilst noting the importance of the conference in addressing trafficking in Persons in the four MRU countries, he said that IOM takes a comprehensive approach to address human trafficking, based on the 4P paradigm (Prosecution-Prevention-Protection and partnership). He added that “Respect for human rights, the physical, mental and social well-being of the individual and his or her community, and the sustainability of our actions through institutional capacity development and partnerships are key to our work”.

"Based on IOM data, we have noted a sharp increase in VoTs and stranded migrants in need of assistance in Sierra Leone. Among them women and girls shared experiences of exploitation while working as domestic workers, including non-payment of wages, sexual abuse, rape, physical violence, movement restrictions, and confiscation of passports by their employers” Christos explained.

He stated that it is essential they support dignified return and reintegration for these VoTs, while also raising awareness among those at risk – something he said IOM has been supporting over the past years through radio broadcasting across the country.

The Secretary General of the Mano River Union (MRU), Ambassador Maria G. Harrison in her statement highlighted the efforts of the MRU Secretariat and its member states in addressing human trafficking. She also emphasized the importance of a regional approach to address trafficking in persons. “ I believe these 2 days’ deliberations will strengthen our collaborative effort in addressing human trafficking”.

The meeting was organized under the project “joint programme “Strengthening border management, social cohesion, and cross-border Security in the Parrot's Beak Area” covering Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone with funding from the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

For more information, please contact Alfred Fornah, Media and Communications Assistant at IOM Sierra Leone, Email: afornah@iom.int