By Awa Sowe
The Executive Director of National Agency against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), Mrs Isatou Dabo, has assured that the fight against human trafficking is a top priority for the Government of The Gambia. This, she said is evident in its commitment of resources to the cause, and that it remains determined to continue its efforts.
She stressed that the Government and the Agency are resolved to prosecute offenders and create a safe, and trafficking-free environment for all.
Madam was recently speaking at the opening of the training of 30 station officers within the Kanifing Municipality on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), held at the National Nutrition Agency.
The training aimed to ensure the identification of victims of TIP and understanding of the indicators of human trafficking and the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). It availed the participants opportunity to gain knowledge on how to identify the difference between TIP and smuggling, and to know what administrative procedures to take in referring such cases to the agency, among others.
Mrs Dabo said her Agency recognises the critical need to prevent human trafficking, protect vulnerable individuals, and prosecute those who commit such severe violations of fundamental human rights. She outlined that her Agency remains dedicated to prioritising the prevention of trafficking, the protection of victims, and the prosecution of offenders in The Gambia.
Over the years, she said her Agency has trained law enforcement officers from different units of the country’s security outfit.
She said as the number of victims of trafficking increased over time, her Agency realised that police stations across the country need some basic knowledge on how to receive cases of trafficking before referral to NAATIP. She emphasised that if station officers who happen to be the heads of these different offices understand the signs and indicators of trafficking and can identify victims of trafficking, they would equally be in a position to know what steps to take in protecting victims of trafficking at the very start of a case.
“Smuggling of migrants is a problem in The Gambia. If our frontline officers are not able to distinguish the difference between smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, there is a chance that a case of trafficking in persons may be reported to a station and it might not be given the necessary attention it deserves,” she observed. She stressed that there is a possibility that there might be confusion between trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Madam Dabo emphasised that the treatment required or requested for each of these cases may be different, depending on the case-to-case basis.
The NAATIP boss further pointed out the importance of front liners or station officers responsible for their subordinates, to understand issues that surround trafficking, and to know how to handle and provide immediate services to victims, and to follow the procedure as stated in the NRM.
However, the Executive Director indicated that the fight against TIP requires adequate resources; and acknowledged that the agency has been facing financial challenges.
