By: Nyima Sillah
The Executive Director of the National Agency Against Trafficking -In-Persons(NAATIP), Isatou Dabo, has disclosed thattrafficking in persons is on the rise in The Gambia but lamented that the country has a “small number of labour inspectors.”
Mrs. Dabo made these revelations at Senegambia Beach Hotel on Tuesday as labourinspectors gathered for a day’s training on issues revolving around TIP and Recruitment Indicators organized by NAATIP.
NAATIP executive director highlighted the “very crucial role” labor inspectors play in the detection of TIP cases.
She added TIP has been on the increase over the years, lamenting that recruiters around the world are becoming more creative in their ways of recruiting persons either for sexual exploitation or for labour purposes on daily basis.
Mrs. Dabo, however, said labour inspectors are not many in The Gambia.
“In The Gambia, we have a small number of labour inspectors. These labour inspectors will play a very crucial and important role if they are equipped with the necessary skills and understanding to be able to identify indicators of recruitment and to be able to pinpoint agents that are recruiting but not necessarily registered under the right provision of the law,”shehighlighted.
The NAATIP executive director stated that it’s important for her agency to conduct the training for labour inspectors as it would enable them to support NAATIP’s effort in collaboration with law enforcement to understand the magnitude of the involvement of any agency or entity in the recruitment for labour either within or outside the jurisdiction.
Aji Adam Cessay, representing the Ministry of Justice, noted that the training will not only raise participants’ awareness of human trafficking but will also empower various sectors of society to take part in combating theglobal problem.
She urged the participants to make the best use of the training to be able to identify key indicators of trafficking and the legal framework on TIP, as well as to improve efficiency in the execution of their mandate.
Mr. Ousman Sanneh, representing the Department of Labour,described the training asvery important to them.
He expressed the conviction that the training will better equip labour inspectors and availthem the opportunity to understand the mandateof NAATIP and how to work with the agency in a mutually-reinforcing manner.