Remarks by the RC at the National Conference on Trafficking in Persons.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Trafficking in persons, a hideous criminal activity, constitutes an affront to human dignity as it often entails serious human rights violations and abuses. The link between human rights violations and trafficking in persons is clear—victims of human trafficking are often deprived of the enjoyment of such basic human rights as the right to education, to a shelter, and to decent work. These deprivations, in turn, often lead to trafficking in persons and to more abuses of rights.

The phenomenon of trafficking in persons is not peculiar to Sierra Leone. Despite efforts at the national level and the existence of a comprehensive international legal framework, millions of children, women, and men continue to be trafficked each year, in all regions of the world. Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of society, targeting the poor, the unemployed, the drug-dependent, the uneducated, and those with mental illness or disability. Individuals of all ages and gender can be victims of human trafficking. Women, however, are particularly vulnerable, as they often occupy low status in society. Persons with disabilities can also be targeted for certain forms of exploitative labour and begging.

If there is one thing, we have learned in the last two years, it is that human trafficking does not stop during a pandemic. Despite the COVID-19 situation, Government entities and civil society organisations continue to record cases of trafficking in persons including children and women in various parts of the country. The combination of the increased number of individuals at risk, traffickers’ ability to capitalize on competing crises, and the diversion of resources to pandemic response efforts has resulted in an ideal environment for human trafficking to flourish. In many cases, victims and witnesses fail to report trafficking incidents for fear of reprisal from traffickers, who are sometimes neighbours or family members. We all need to work hand in hand with the government to put an end to this inhumane phenomenon.

The Government of Sierra Leone, its development partners, including the UN, are working together to tackle trafficking in persons despite various constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the adaptability of the traffickers to evolving situations. These efforts include significantly increasing investigations and prosecutions of crimes related to trafficking in persons, allocating resources for protective services including, within the context of the national referral mechanism for victim protection and assistance, and adopting a new anti-trafficking national action plan. However, despite this progress, trafficking in persons remains a subject of concern in Sierra Leone.

As reported over the years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Sierra Leone as well as Sierra Leonean nationals abroad. Traffickers recruit victims largely from rural provinces to urban and mining centres mainly for exploitation in sex trafficking, forced marriage, and forced labour in domestic service, artisanal diamond and granite mining, rocks breaking, quarrying, street crime and begging. Traffickers also exploit victims in fisheries and agriculture. Traditional foster care practices such as menpikin, which perpetuates child labour, exploitation and child abuse are still largely common in the country.

School closure and economic vulnerability aggravated by COVID-19 pandemic have increased children and youth’s vulnerability to exploitation. Sierra Leoneans migrating to other West African countries as well as to the Middle East and Europe may fall into the hands of traffickers, ending up in situations of exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, or sex work. Too often, protective frameworks do not exist or are poorly implemented.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

Ending trafficking in persons and upholding human rights is a shared responsibility. We need to build upon the ‘3P’ paradigm –prevention, protection, and prosecution– which is built into global instruments such as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The UN System is committed to advance the 3Ps.

PREVENTION. Prevention includes amending labour laws, so they do not omit certain classes of workers from coverage; robustly enforcing labour laws that provide safeguards against exploitation and abuse; developing and monitoring labour recruitment programs to protect workers from exploitation; strengthening partnerships among law enforcement officials, foreign governments, and NGOs and monitoring supply chains to address possible forced labour issues. Awareness-raising and community engagement are also critical to prevent trafficking particularly in communities and among youths-at-risk.

PROTECTION. Protection is key to the victim-centred approach that the international community takes in its efforts to combat trafficking in persons. This entails identifying victims, providing referrals to access comprehensive protection services, improving any policy that could encourage migration through formal channels and supporting survivors as they rebuild dignified lives. Special attention should be paid when the victims are children, women, or the marginalised members of the communities such as persons with disabilities.

PROSECUTION. This entails efforts to increase investigations and prosecution, to improve regional coordination for prosecution of transnational cases, and improving data collection on anti-trafficking law enforcement and victim assistance are key to deliver against the Prosecution measures. The UN through IOM and UNODC has supported the training of police officers, officers from legal department, and the Judiciary to improve their capacities in investigation, prosecution, and conviction of trafficking cases. We will continue to support government efforts at implementing adequate anti-trafficking laws and measures.

This National Conference is a timely opportunity to reflect and plan for actions to continue the joint fight towards ending Trafficking in Persons in Sierra Leone. The United Nations in Sierra Leone, through IOM and UNODC will continue to support the strategic priorities of the National Trafficking in Persons Taskforce, looking pragmatically at the 3Ps and the outcomes of this National Conference. The efforts made by civil society organizations must also be commended for the role they play in combatting trafficking in persons in Sierra Leone and beyond. The interest from diplomatic and international development actors to support trafficking responses must likewise be commended, as resources remain overall insufficient.

Finally, let me commend the leadership of the Ministry of Social Welfare for convening this important event.

I thank you for your kind attention.