IDLO Conducts  Trafficking  Awareness

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ADNews- Bong: IDLO in collaboration with Community Service Sections from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, concluded two days Anti Trafficking in Persons awareness in Bong County.

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) coordinated with the community services sections of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and conducted two days (August 26-27, 2024) anti Trafficking in Persons (TIP) awareness in Bong County. The two-day event was focused on combatting trafficking in persons through awareness and included stakeholder dialogue and community outreach aimed at educating community leaders and raising awareness in at-risk communities about Trafficking in Persons and its effects on society and individuals.

On 26 Monday, 2024, ACP. Karlay S. Kollie, Deputy Chief of Community Services, Liberia National Police (LNP) and her team convened a stakeholder dialogue with heads of law enforcement institutions, community leaders, religious and traditional leaders, youths and women groups. The dialogue focused on increasing stakeholders’ knowledge and understanding of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) including providing answers on frequently asked questions about TIP. Participants were educated to the meaning and definition of trafficking in persons and informed of the existing legal frameworks and policies, including the 2021 Act to Ban TIP in Liberia. Furthermore, participants were provided tips on how they can buttress the Government of Liberia’s efforts in combatting TIP.

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is defined as the recruitment transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by means of force, fraud, threats, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.  Under the Liberian Law, (the 2021 Revised Act to Ban Trafficking in Persons within the Republic of Liberia); a person faces a minimum of 20 years imprisonment if found guilty of the crime-Trafficking in Persons. He/she may also be required to restitute losses made by victims, plus pay fines starting at US $100,00. Some forms of trafficking in persons included: • Forced Labor -Forced Child Labor • Sex Trafficking -Child Sex Trafficking • Bonded Labor/Debt Bondage • Domestic Servitude • Unlawful Recruitment & use of Child Soldiers • Illicit Removal of Human Organs.

Some signs of Trafficking in Persons include • Seizure of an individual’s travel documents (passport, visa, laissez-passer, etc.) by their employer or host. • Person working excessive hours or is available “on demand.” • Limited work safety standards or signs of physical abuse • Limited freedom of movement (when the person’s movement is being monitored by their superiors) • Poor working conditions without the ability of the victim to lodge a formal complaint

Despite Liberia’s recent downgrade from Tier 2 to Tier 2 watch list as recorded in the US States Department Trafficking in Persons Report 2024 found at https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/liberia the Government of Liberia is showing commitment to increasing its anti-Tip efforts across the country through increased awareness.

Following the strategic stakeholder engagement, the joint awareness team collaborated with local leaders including Chief Mary Lartey, motorcyclists, market women, and local youth groups; and engaged with the communities through open-air outreach. T-shirts, flyers, posters, and stickers with anti-TIP messages were distributed and placed at public buildings and other places throughout Gbarnga city.  Additionally, anti-Tip jingles were aired throughout the city and its environs using a mobile public address (PA) system.

During an interview with Mr. Ballah M. David, the Program Associate of the International Development Law Organization “emphasized the need for collective collaboration between law enforcement institutions, community and religions leaders and the community in general as one strategic approach that will prove effective in combatting TIP in Liberia. He emphasized that all the anti-TIP interventions and activities held by IDLO in Bong and across Liberia were made possible with funding and support from the US Government through the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

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