By Janet Sam-Kobba
The government of Sierra Leone through the ministry of social welfare has launched a national action plan against trafficking in persons.
The event which took place on the 30th of July on the theme “Leave no child behind in the fight against human trafficking,” was held at New Brookfield Hotel in Freetown and it was graced with the presence of both local and international partners.
The Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty thanked the Anti-Trafficking in Person’s Task Force Secretariat and it partners for setting an operational plan to fight and combat human trafficking in Sierra Leone. She gave some recommendations that include expansion of victim protection services, provision of shelter for male victims, and to increase efforts to investigate and seek adequate punishments for convicted traffickers.
Karminty revealed that the ministry of Finance is providing financial support to the Anti- Trafficking in persons Agency for office space and equipment needed for their coordination role as well as money to victims of human trafficking. She noted that the aim is to increase efforts to address, reduce or eradicate human trafficking issues in the country.
According to the Social Welfare minister, the plan is in line with the government’s mid- term national development plan.
“Our country is making significant effort to fully lead minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking and we want to try to increase efforts to investigate and prosecute traffickers, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers,” she stated.
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi pledged the support of her ministry in fighting against trafficking in persons in the country. She noted that the launch of the national action plan is a significant step towards combating issues of human trafficking, building on the foundation laid by the anti- human trafficking, smuggling and migrant Act of 2022 and the establishment of the Anti- Trafficking in persons Task Force Secretariat.
Human trafficking is a huge global concern. At the latest government press conference on July 30th, the minister of Information, Chernor Bah described it as a huge problem for the country. He mentioned that roughly 600 Sierra Leoneans were presently stranded in Niger.
According to Mr Bah, there has been constant increase in the number of reported persons trafficked in Sierra Leone between 2017 and 2023. He noted that in 2017, the total number of reported trafficked persons was 28, which increased to 76 from 2019 to 2023.
“I was made to understand that some people have turned trafficking of persons into business…this is a massive issue of concern that we will continue to address in this platform and we want to announce that we are working with international partners,” he said.
The executive director of the Anti-trafficking in persons task force secretariat, Dehunge Shiaka during his presentation of the national action plan against trafficking in persons highlighted some of the things they want to achieve within the next five years as part of the fight against Human Trafficking. He mentioned activities like operationalization of the toll-free line, conducting research, capacity building and training opportunities for Trafficking in persons, setting up a Trafficking in persons media group and setting up 10 Trafficking in Persons school clubs.
Janet Sam-Kobba is an intern at ManoReporters and she is a final year student at the Mass Communication Department at Central University in Mile 91.
