Niamey, Niger 17 September 2018 - Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is the criminal exploitation of women, men and children for various purposes, including forced labour and sexual exploitation. All States are affected by human trafficking, whether as countries of origin, transit or destination of victims. According to the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), children account for one third of the victims of human trafficking worldwide, and women and girls for some 80% of the global trafficking. In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 68/192 proclaiming 30 July as World Day against Trafficking in Persons. In legal terms, trafficking in persons is covered by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted by resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000.
In Niger, significant efforts are being made to counter this phenomenon. As a reminder, Niger has adopted all the relevant international legal instruments and set up the institutions in charge of the fight against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. In particular the national agency to combat TIP and SOM, which is working to raise awareness among all stakeholders that can play a role whilst also strengthening the capacities of the actors involved.
Accordingly, UNODC under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants ( GLO.ACT), jointly organized, with the Agence Nationale de Lutte controe la Traite des Personnes (ANLTP/TIM), an awareness-raising conference for law enforcement officers to raise their awareness about the new recruitment methods used by human traffickers, including social media networks, specifically against minors. The aim is that providing law enforcement officers with these insights will enable them to better conduct their investigations in TIP cases and protect the rights of victims.
Speaking during the conference, Mr. Maman Sadissou Laouali, GLO.ACT's National Project Officer for Niger explained the importance of this day for the United Nations in general and for the UNODC in particular, whose mission is to assist States in achieving the objective of security and justice by making the world safer from crime, drugs and terrorism. Before finishing his remarks and thanking ANLTP/TIM and the management of the police training school he also explained to the audience the objectives of the GLO.ACT project.
Meanwhile, the Director of ANLTP/TIM, Ms. Gogé Maimouna Gazibo, began by commenting on the very good collaboration that exists between UNODC and its agency, which made it possible to hold this conference. She then explained the reasons why law enforcement were target group for this conference, indicating that, as officers detecting cases of trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, it seemed necessary to raise their awareness of the new recruitment methods for victims of trafficking in order to be able to carry out their investigations effectively.
Speaking as a guest, the President of the Parliamentary Network to Combat Irregular Migration, Ms. Saminou Laouali Amina explained the reasons why such a network has been established within the National Assembly of Niger. In her view, the issues of TIP and SOM have become such a concern for the public authorities that it was deemed necessary for the national representation to set up this network.
The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Maman Sadissou Laouali
GLO.ACT National Project Officer for Niger
laouali.sadissou@un.org
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act