Sikasso, Mali, 9 April 2018 - Over the last few years, trafficking in persons (TIP) has become an ever-increasing concern in East Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. To cope with the significant challenges posed by this phenomenon, regional institutions and governments have initiated policies and actions to combat TIP. In the case of Mali, the government started to engage in the fight against TIP and the smuggling of migrants (SOM) around 2010. Since then, the government adopted Decree No.2011-036/PM-RM, established the National Committee against TIP and associated practices and, in 2012, adopted Law N.2012-023 on TIP and associated practices. In addition, in March 2016 a National Action Plan (2015-2017) was launched, and a budget of 200 million FCFA was made available to the National Coordinating Committee to enable the plans effective and efficient implemenation by various government and non-government stakeholders.
It is in this context, and to reinforce the Malian response in the fight against TIP, the National Coordinating Committee organized with UNODC and IOM a national workshop from 19 to 23 March 2018. The aim of the workshop was to assess the impact of the first National Action Plan (2015-2017) and to develop a new action plan for 2018-2022.
During the first two days of the worshop, participants worked in small group settings and focused on evaluating the impact of the first three-year National Action Plan (2015-2017). This was done through the application of technical tools such as a performace evaluation and measurement framework as well as the use of an evaulation criteria sheet. The plenary session then provided participants with the opportunity to share their groupwork's findings and to obtain a consolidated assessment of the first National Action Plan. The next three days of the workshop were dedicated to the development of the new five-year National Action Plan against TIP (2018-2022). During the workshop, Ms. Sandrine Gbialy Bigorra, a UNODC consultant, praised the government's commitment to improving its national response to human trafficking, highlightning that this will also contribute to UNODC Regional Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Persons (2015-2020).
Workshop participants included over 25 committee members, UNODC and IOM staff as well as representatives from the media and civil society. The workshop was supported by the government of Mali, the United States 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/
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act