The Minister of Labor, Charles Gibson, has submitted his Ministry’s annual report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), covering the period July 2022–June 2023, noting that the report is consistent with the second National Action Plan (NAP) on TIP, which guides responses during the period 2019–2024 and follows up on the first national report which covered the period July 2019– June 2020.
The report was launched on January 16, 2024 at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia.
Speaking at the launching and turning over ceremony, Labor Minister, Charles Gibson, presented compliments and submitted his annual national report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP).
“In this document, we seek to present efforts by the Government of Liberia, coordinated by the National Anti-Trafficking Task Force (NATT), to combat TIP and provide a comprehensive account of the challenges and successes leading to effective coordination among TIP stakeholders, to collect, analyze, report, and respond to TIP cases,” the Minister asserted.
Gibson said Pres. George M. Weah, over time and with his support, has been able to expand structures to fight TIP and strengthen the ability of local civil society to contribute in a meaningful way.
He noted that prevention efforts in Liberia, during the period under review (July 2022–June 2023), were led by the Government of Liberia, with extensive support from and involvement of both funding and implementing partners.
He said these efforts included community meetings, consultations, dialogues, parades, and the distribution of literature to raise awareness, stating that the biggest single awareness event continues to be the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (WDATIP), occurring annually on July 30, amplified by multiple activities in different counties on this day.
The MOL narrated that 61 victims were able to receive financial assistance through IOM and World Hope International, and 30 suspected victims have been repatriated to their places of origin within and outside Liberia, including Sierra Leone and Nigeria, and 18 suspected victims were given new traveling documents.
He furthered that the Government of Liberia continues to represent victims against the perpetrators of TIP through the prosecution service of the Ministry of Justice.
The MOL head emphasized that notable Liberian protection achievements include the repatriation, temporary accommodation, and reintegration of victims into families and communities.
According to the Minister, the Government of Liberia operates four separate safe homes for victims, three of which were renovated during the review period, and of the four safe homes, three are devoted to TIP victims while one is available in the event of a spillover, either in absolute numbers or for victims with special circumstances.
The MOL boss cited that at least 21 training sessions were conducted in the period July 2022–June 2023, noting that over 370 persons from 17 institutions were trained, including officers from the LNP, LIS, LDEA, and the Ministry of Labor (MoL).
Min. Gibson pointed out that the TIP activities were conducted in all border counties of Liberia, including Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, stating, “I am grateful to each ministry, agency, governmental entity, and partner for working with us in this endeavor.”
“The substantial expansion of budgetary support made available to the NATT has enabled us to obtain and sustain improved results. Your Excellency, it would please you to note that during the period under review, our nation was able to achieve a Tier II ranking in terms of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), demonstrating significant progress in the fight against trafficking,” the Minister explained.
He, at the same time, said, this report is being made possible through the support of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), funded by the US Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the submission of information by a number of organizations and governmental agencies.
