In a remarkable effort to combat the heinous crime of human trafficking, Madam Melrose Karminty, the Minister of Social Welfare, spearheaded the launch of Sierra Leone’s National Strategy to End Human Trafficking.
The initiative was unveiled during her keynote speech at the United Nations Network on Migration’s “Working Better Together” program, where she emphasized the urgency of collective action in addressing this critical issue.
The Minister stressed the gravity of the crime and emphasized the need to ensure that no victim is left behind, advocating for comprehensive and tailored support for all victims. She highlighted the significance of the National Referral Mechanism, which provides essential protection services to victims, including temporary shelter, rehabilitation, reintegration, and economic empowerment.
Aligned with this year’s World Day Against Trafficking theme, “Reach every Victim of Trafficking, Leave no one behind,” the Minister’s commitment to the cause was further amplified, spurring a renewed dedication to the country’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Agency.
Dehunge Shiaka, The Executive Director of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Agency, praised the collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare and their joint efforts to implement the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migration Smuggling Act No. 12 of 2022.
He announced the launch of the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund, which would enable the establishment of the First Adult Male Shelter for Victims of Trafficking and expand existing shelters.
The event saw support from Mr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi, the UN Resident Coordinator to Sierra Leone, who underscored the global scale of human trafficking and stressed the need for increased investment in detection, protection, and law enforcement to hold traffickers accountable and support survivors.
Christos Doulides, the Head of the Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), praised Sierra Leone’s efforts in combating trafficking and highlighted the vulnerability of targeted individuals due to poverty, conflict, and climate-related disasters.
The newly established Anti-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, in partnership with the IOM, organized the event to mark the 2023 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The comprehensive National Strategy to End Human Trafficking (2022-2026) was officially launched, outlining 29 action points assigned to various stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society organizations. The strategy focuses on policy development, prevention, protection, partnership, and prosecution to eliminate human trafficking in Sierra Leone.
Hon Melrose Karminty’s impassioned keynote speech and the subsequent launch of the National Strategy to End Human Trafficking garnered widespread acclaim and support from stakeholders, traditional partners, and the international community. Her unwavering commitment has set a powerful example for the nation, leaving a lasting impact on Sierra Leone’s journey towards a safer, more just, and trafficking-free society.
