The Deputy Minister of Labour for Planning and Manpower Development, Steve Kolubah, says the complexities of human trafficking, including its various forms such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking, require a multifaceted and holistic approach that addresses both the immediate and root causes of this heinous crimes.
He said that over the past several years, Liberia has made significant strides in strengthening our legal frameworks, enhancing law enforcement, and improving victim support systems, but we acknowledged that much more needs to be done.
Deputy Minister Kolubah made these assertions Monday, October 14, 2024, when he delivered a special statement on behalf of Labour Minister Cooper Kruah at the opening of the 16th Annual Review Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Network of National Focal Institutions against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Monrovia.
“As Chair of Liberia’s Trafficking in Persons Taskforce, I stand before you with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the fight against human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights that continues to undermine the dignity of our citizens, our region, and the world. This meeting, which brings together experts, stakeholders, and representatives from across the ECOWAS region, is a critical moment for collaboration, exchange, and collective action in this ongoing struggle,” the Labour Ministry official averred.
Minister Kolubah informed participants that Liberia has worked tirelessly to combat trafficking through strategic initiatives, such as increased awareness campaign, bolstered victim protection, and international collaboration.
He, however, noted that no country can succeed alone in this battle, noting that collective efforts, shared knowledge, and unity of purpose will determine how effectively we can safeguard the future of our children, our families, and our communities.
“As we engage in discussions over the next three days, I urge all of us to focus on practical solutions, innovative strategies, and the reinforcement of existing commitments to protect the most vulnerable among us. Together, we have the power to build a regional framework that not only responds to trafficking but prevents it from occurring in the first place,” Deputy Minister Kolubah noted.
“In Liberia, we are proud to host this meeting, and we are committed to contributing meaningfully to the dialogue. Our nation stands ready to collaborate with our ECOWAS counterparts and international partners to ensure that the region becomes a place where human trafficking is no longer tolerated and where every individual, regardless of their circumstances, can live with dignity and freedom,” he added.
Also speaking during the program, the Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (Current Chair of ECOWAS) and the Director-General of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Lami Adamu Bello, on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria which presently sits as the Chair of the Authorities and Heads of Government of ECOWAS welcome the participants to the 16th Annual Review Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Network of National Focal Institutions Against Trafficking in Persons.
She said it is gratifying to note that this annual Review meeting established in 2007 to review implementation of actions of member states in our collective counter trafficking efforts has held 15 times with lots of improvements and lessons learned from each other every year.
She noted that looking at reports of previous meetings and she is satisfied and confident that this meeting will build on past achievements and afford us the opportunity to draw a new road map through our priorities for the next year.
“There is no doubt that trafficking in persons especially in our region has become a huge crisis and in fact, a pandemic which in recent times seem to be increasing within individual member states in varying degrees as a result of the economic crises across the globe including member states which has in turn affected livelihood and increased poverty, thereby, making our young people wanting to look for greener pastures elsewhere, thus becoming more vulnerable for trafficking. Insecurity due to activities of bandits and criminal non state actors has equally not helped us. The use of technology has not also helped because there is now less physical recruitment in favor of recruitment through the cyber space where detection has become difficult. These have made the fight in many countries more difficult and more expensive,” Madam Bello emphasized.
The Resident Representative of the President of ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah disclosed that ECOWAS Commission and partners have made available the amount of US$35,000,000 to each of the 12 ECOWAS States in support of TIP Programs.
