By: Fatima Baldeh
The National Agency Against Trafficking In Person (NAATIP) on Tuesday at Metzy Hotel wrapped up training for security officers which commenced last week Tuesday.
The 120 law enforcement officers were selected from the Gambia Police Force (GPF), the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), the State Intelligence Agency, Customs, Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG).
The Executive Director of NAATIP, Isatou Darboe, says trafficking in person being a transnational organized crime requires the adoption of collaborative strategies in the area of Information sharing, investigation and Prosecution to combat it, adding this fact has been recognized by most international instruments as well as The TIP Act 2007.
“We know drug trafficking is the biggest and the largest must profitable organized crime and after that we have human-trafficking. This shows how serious this problem is,” NAATIP ED pointed out.
According to her, NAATIP is fully committed to the prevention of all forms of human degradation and exploitation through the coordinated use of the national crime prevention and law enforcement resources to stamp out and say no to trafficking in persons. Adding that vulnerable groups especially women and children should be spared from dehumanization and exploitative employment and to ensure with NAATIP implementing partners and stakeholders their rehabilitation and effective reintegration into the society.
The NAATIP Boss reiterated that trafficking in person being a national crime needs concerted efforts from all sectors including all the security officers, NGO’s, civil society and all other stakeholders in other to protect the citizens of the Gambia, adding this is a trans-national organized crime and has affected all countries of which the Gambia is not an exception.
She further outlined the agency’s mandate saying NAATIP adopt measures to ensure that Gambians deployed abroad on peacekeeping or other similar mission do not engage in or facilitate trafficking in persons or exploit victims of trafficking.
“Monitor the immigration and emigration patterns of The Gambia and secure the prompt response of police and other law enforcement agencies where necessary. Make recommendations for a national plan of action against trafficking in persons. Monitor and report on the progress of the national plan of action to the economic community or any other relevant organization, through the Secretary of State etc.”
She advised all the participants to share the knowledge gain from the training with their colleagues to foster awareness in handling issues and identification of TIP victims.
