By Bubacarr Gaye
In an exclusive interview with Gambia Daily, the Executive Director of National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), Isatou Dabo, expressed concern about the general lack of cooperation of victims and the general public in terms of reporting and dealing with cases of trafficking in persons. Due to [our close-nit] society, some people worry about discrimination and stigmatisation, and so for them to come out and explain their experience is difficult”.
She however urged victims and the general public to report cases of trafficking in persons to the Agency.
The agency, under the Ministry of Justice, has the responsibility of combating trafficking in persons in The Gambia with its mandate focused on four key areas: prevention of trafficking in persons, protecting victims and vulnerable population to trafficking, and investigation and prosecution of persons found wanting.
The Executive Director explained that trafficking in persons is essentially one person using an individual to gain profit at the detriment of that individual.
She clarified that trafficking in persons is different from smuggling, which she said is about having a contract with other people.
“In trafficking in persons, there are three different elements to look at: The act of embarking on human trafficking, the means and purpose. If these three elements are not observed in the process, then it is something else, but not trafficking in persons,” she remarked.
On the elements of trafficking, Ms Dabo detailed that in determining the act “you look at recruitment; whether the person was harboured or transported”.
The means, on the other hand, she said, focuses on how it was done; which could be by deception, or coercion; while the purpose looks at the reason that triggered the transportation of the person. “Mostly, behind this purpose is labour exploitation or sexual exploitation,” she added.
Explaining how the agency receives cases, the Executive Director intimated that cases are brought to them by people, the police, through intelligence, immigration officers, the general public and victims of trafficking in person.
“When victims are able to self-realise or suspect a case, our hotline: 1123 is open and you can call for free of charge,” she alluded.
Ms Dabo emphasised that they have respect for privacy and confidentiality in dealing with reported cases. She assured that victims are accorded the right to decide whether their case can be taken to court or not.
“We provide the necessary plans to make sure that at any point in time they are ready; that they can come forward to the Agency. Equally, we provide integration packages to help them start something,” she stated.
The NAATIP boss warned that trafficking in person is a criminal offence; that anyone suspected of bein a perpetrator, they would be treated like it is done in criminal cases.
“The trafficking in persons laws that we have in The Gambia are stricter than laws in other states. We have good anti-trafficking laws,” she reassured.
She however pointed out that trafficking is an ever-changing field; that with time, traffickers become more innovative and creative with the means they employ to get what they want.
On the challenges Madam Dabo mentioned finance, human resources, lack of sophisticated training tools, among others.
“The fight against trafficking in persons is a very expensive engagement; there is high cost in shelter, victims support, integration packages, daily operations, field operations, among others. It really requires huge amount of finance and human resources, and these are definitely our constraints,” Dabo cautioned.
On some of the interventions her agency undertakes in curbing the act and managing cases of trafficking in persons, the country’s anti-trafficking in person chief, revealed that they do raise awareness through weekly radio programmes, and conduct community sensitisation not just within the Greater Banjul Area, but also in the rural areas.
She assured that the Agency is committed to ensuring that the rate of trafficking in persons is minimised. She went further to say that the ultimate objective is for The Gambia to be at Tier 1 in the ranking system.
“Being at Tier 2 is an encouraging step. You cannot be at Tier 2 if there is a decrease in efforts. We are doing our utmost best to get to Tier 1,” she stated.
The NAATIP Executive Director finally urged people to conduct due diligence in respect of the kind of travels they involve themselves in.
