By Linus Flomo
U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Labor, Cooper Kruah, last week.
The meeting, held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, focused on strengthening the partnership between Liberia and the United States, particularly in the areas of combating human trafficking, child labor, and staff capacity development.
During the discussion, Minister Kruah outlined his vision for tackling human trafficking and child labor, emphasizing the need for institutionalized approaches to prevention, protection, and prosecution.
He acknowledged that the previous administration had faced challenges in successfully prosecuting cases, resulting in Liberia being downgraded to the Tier Two Watch List.
“We did not perform well during the last administration and reporting period, as we were unable to successfully prosecute all cases,” Minister Kruah admitted. “This was partly due to victims’ unwillingness to testify and other challenges.
However, we are now working diligently to prosecute three cases currently on the docket for the August term of court. Three victims; two males and one female, who were trafficked, are now in our safe home.”
Minister Kruah also announced a successful prosecution involving a Sierra Leonean man who had trafficked and sold his own daughter in Liberia to fund his U.S. Diversity Visa application. He is now serving a prison term, and arrangements have been made for her repatriation to Sierra Leone, in collaboration with their embassy,” Kruah added.
The Minister highlighted the ongoing partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has led to the renovation of two safe homes and the review of the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) National Action Plan (NAP).
A major stakeholders’ engagement was recently concluded to revise the U.S. State Department’s 2024 TIP report on Liberia, addressing recommendations such as increasing efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, enhancing protection services for victims, and supporting anti-trafficking initiatives.
Minister Kruah expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for its continuous support for Liberia’s programs and policies, while calling for increased financial and logistical assistance to combat human trafficking and child labor.
He noted the significant budget cut for prosecution, from $250,000 to $33,000, is a major impediment to the Ministry’s efforts.
Ambassador Toner commended Minister Kruah for his commitment to upholding international labor standards and protecting human rights
“I appreciate your farsightedness in working hard to restore Liberia’s position on the global stage,” said Ambassador Toner. “Respect for workers’ rights is fundamental, and I am pleased to see the progress you are making in addressing anti-human trafficking. We look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that Liberia remains on the right trajectory, with a growing economy and increased investment.”
The visit marks a reaffirmation of the strong ties subsisting between the United States and Liberia, as both nations work together to combat human trafficking and promote labor rights.
