By Binta Jaiteh
The National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP) on Tuesday commemorated World Day Against Human Trafficking.
The day was celebrated this year under the theme “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”.
In her remarks on the occasion, the Executive Director of NAATIP, Isatou Dabo, said this year’s theme served as an important reminder for all.
She said it was not only to remember that children get trafficked daily but also that these children deserve and require certain safeguards to protect them from human trafficking, irrespective of their race, colour, religion, nationality, or social background.
She said the responsibility to protect is not only on the parents, guardians, or persons under whose custody these children are, but it is also the responsibility of each community, civil society, government, and the private sector.
“What we do for our children today, and every child would have an impact on what the future will be. This will affect how our country is governed, decisions made in key areas of development, and in essence affect the very fabric of our society,” she stated.
According to her, globally, one in three trafficking victims is a child. She added that this year’s commemoration was a call for action, for concerted efforts that not only protect adult victims of human trafficking.
“Over the years, The Gambia has developed a series of policies on child protection and has equally passed laws aimed at safeguarding the rights of every child, including child victims of trafficking,” NAATIP boss reiterated.
She disclosed that this year, NAATIP is not only commemorating the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons but is also launching the American Bar Association, a State Department-funded project to combat TIP. She explained that there are a good number of civil society organizations working in anti-trafficking and the Government, through NAATIP, is also engaged in numerous anti-trafficking efforts.
She stated that the setting up of the NAATIP, mandated to combat trafficking in persons and the work it does in the protection of children against trafficking in persons, continues to facilitate and provide services for the most vulnerable.
“However, now more than ever, there is a need to further strengthen, increase, and improve services for child victims of trafficking,” she highlighted.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dawda Jallowalso emphasized that human trafficking is a deplorable crime that inflicts immeasurable pain and suffering upon its victims.
“Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, yet they continue to lack adequate protection in certain key areas”, Minister Jallow argued
For his part, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, stated that the government “is dedicated to implementing the necessary measures to improve our current strategies into one that aligns with our vision for the future”. Trafficking, he went on, can have both short and long-term effects and the impact can last a lifetime.
“We are determined to combat trafficking in person and have a strong political will to allocate resources towards this cause,” he assured
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Karl Frederick Paul,asserted that trafficking in persons violates human rights, exploits vulnerability, and undermines “our shared values of dignity, equality, and Justice”.