The Chairperson of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia, Cooper Kruah, has assured international partners that the fight against Trafficking In Persons is on track.
Minister Kruah stated that the Government of Liberia, through the Taskforce, is doing everything to ensure that its ranking improves in accordance with the United States Department grading on the elimination of Trafficking-In-Persons (TIP).
He emphasized that the leadership of the Taskforce under his watch is committed to promoting effectiveness in the fight against TIP despite the significant budgetary constraints currently faced by the Taskforce.
Minister Kruah took the opportunity to call on international partners to provide funding to facilitate the training of law enforcement bodies and other partners to enhance the capacity of the Taskforce and key stakeholders.
The Taskforce Chairman and Labour Minister made these remarks on Friday, July 19, 2024, when a delegation from the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and World Hope International (WHI) met with him at the Ministry of Labour in Monrovia.
The three international organizations were represented at the meeting by Madam Chinylumugo Okoh, Country Manager, IDLO; Mr. Lenaud Serge Desire, Country Coordinator, IOM; and Mr. Richeleau A. Nance, Country Program Manager, WHI.
According to the Country Manager of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Chinylumugo Okoh, the visit aimed to gather the Ministry’s response to the United States Department’s 2023 annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which downgraded Liberia from Tier 2 to the Tier 2 Watch List.
Following the response from the Liberian Minister, the three international organizations pledged their commitment to working with the Government of Liberia through the TIP Taskforce to combat TIP and help improve Liberia’s ranking in the next report.
It can be recalled that the United States Department’s 2023-2024 annual Trafficking in Persons Report downgraded Liberia from Tier 2 to the Tier 2 Watch List.
The report stated; “The Government of Liberia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.”
These efforts included completing renovations for two victim shelters initiated in the previous reporting period and conducting awareness campaigns.
However, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period.
The government prosecuted fewer traffickers and did not convict any traffickers. Law enforcement officials continued to lack adequate resources and understanding of trafficking to effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes.
Victim services remained insufficient, and the government referred significantly fewer trafficking victims to care.
The government did not allocate adequate funding for anti-trafficking efforts, and concerns of official complicity remained. Therefore, Liberia was downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List.”