Bamako, Mali - 8 June 2018 - UNODC, under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrant ( GLO.ACT) and with the support of United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and PROMIS project, participated and supported a consultation workshop in Mali of the review of Law No 2012-023. This law relates to the fight against trafficking in persons (TIP) and related practices, and it prohibits all forms of trafficking of adults and children.
Transnational crime networks thrive on regional instability and exploit porous borders. In fact, transnational organized crime (TOC) represents one of the key challenges facing West Africa and particularly affects the Sahel region. In order address these phenomena, several regional and national government institutions have included provisions of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime ( UNTOC) and its additional protocols on trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants in their domestic laws and national action plans. Mali ratified the UNTOC on 12 July 2012.
It is in this context that Law No 2012-023 underwent an in-depth analysis, which formed the basis for a consultative workshop to review the outcomes of the analysis and to support the drafting of new legislation on TIP. There are also plans to draft legislation in regards to the smuggling of migrants (SOM). Over 50 people participated in the workshop, held from 14-18 May 2018, including representatives the National Coordinating Committee to combat TIP and related practices, members from the drafting committee, civil society and UNODC.
The first two days of the workshop focused on the legislative review, presented by the drafting committee, that included clear recommendations for any future legislation on TIP. In fact, during the workshop, the National Coordinating Committee to Combat TIP and related practices endorsed the findings of the analysis. The remaining three days of the workshop were designed to enable all participants to discuss challenges and good practices that should be considered in drafting the new TIP legislation. Having experts from civil society, law enforcement and UNODC participate in the workshop ensured that different views were taken into account during the discussions.
Following the consultation workshop the drafting committee, mandated by the National Coordinating Committee, is now expected to start drafting the new TIP legislation. The hope is that the drafting process for the new TIP legislation will only take a couple of months before it can become law. However, several factors may impact this process such as the countries up-coming presidential and parliamentary elections.
The workshop was supported by the government of Mali, the government of Norway through the PROMIS project, OHCHR and the Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT). 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 assist 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 assisting victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Moulaye Arby, GLO.ACT National Project Officer for Mali
moulaye.arby@un.org
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act