By Aisha Tamba
The National Agency against Trafficking in Persons (Naatip) last week met members of its taskforce to discuss ways and means of fighting human trafficking in The Gambia.
The meeting happened under the framework of the Supporting National Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons in The Gambia project. The project was funded by the US State Department to Monitor and combat trafficking in person.
The day’s event saw task force members discuss pertinent issues in the fight against trafficking especially as regards women and children.
In collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Naatip meeting was held at the NaNa conference hall in Bakau.
The executive director of Naatip, Tulai Jawara Ceesay, said trafficking in persons, because of its transnational nature, is a cross-border crime, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts from all actors.
“…Trafficking in Persons is a criminal offence of which perpetrators should be punished as per the Revised laws of The Gambia, volume 3 caps 1304, which is the Trafficking in Persons act 2017,” she stated.
Ms Jawara said Trafficking in Persons is not only a problem in The Gambia, but a global concern that calls for all member states to synergise efforts to combat it.
“… As per the Palermo Protocol, we should work to prevent and suppress and punish those involved in Trafficking in Persons,” she stressed.
She then made a presentation on the Terms of Reference of the Taskforce, with members doing some editorial changes which were green-lighted for adoption at the next taskforce meeting.
She also presented Naatip’s National Plan of Action 2016- 2020.
