UNODC supports the Gambian government by strengthening capacities of Law enforcement officers to combat the Trafficking In Persons and Smuggling Of Migrants effectively

Women and children are subjected to sex trafficking, forced labor in street vending, prostitution and domestic servitude. Child sex tourism is a big issue in the country, and it is often hard to detect. The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls. The Gambia is a source and transit country for international migration in West Africa. Gambians represent an important contingent of irregular migrants found along the irregular routes, many take the “back way”, as it is commonly referred, to pass through West Africa and reach Mali or Niger before heading North to Libya, where they attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Hence, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are a significant reality in The Gambia.

Lack of knowledge about their role and functions leads Law Enforcement officers to be doubtful about their daily tasks to combat TIP and SOM in The Gambia. Duplication of functions, difficulty following up on cases, or unaware of investigative procedures are some difficulties they often experience. This situation prevents them effectively addressing these two crimes. A clearer understanding of their role was urgently needed.

In this context, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime facilitated a three day Training of Trainers workshop for Gambia Law Enforcement Officers, to equip them with a working knowledge and skills of investigating and prosecuting SOM and to strengthen their capacities through an interactive approach allowing an exchange of experience and good practices sharing among participants.

After this workshop, law enforcement agents count on a clearer understanding on their role and their responsibilities to respond more effectively to tackle smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking of Persons.

This activity was carried out under the PROMIS project, an OHCHR and UNODC joint initiative which aims at “Strengthening the capacities of West African states to develop a human rights-based response to smuggling of migrants and to effectively respond to human rights violations related to irregular migration”, financed by The Netherlands and Italy.

The Workshop was conducted virtually by UNODC International Legal Expert Mr. Irving Vidal Terrazas and Mr. Romulus Ungureanu; UNODC International Law Enforcement Advisor and facilitated by UNODC National Project Officer (NPO); Ms. Fatou Geo Barry.

Finally, it is important to acknowledge the need to maintain and strengthen the ongoing cooperation between UNODC and the Government of Gambia, especially in achieving the common goals as outlined in key international instruments and national policy documents in relation to countering TIP and SOM.

UNODC thanked the Government of the Gambia for its commitment to fulfilling its obligation under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto. The Gambia has successfully domesticated the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; which is the Gambia’s Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 prohibits all forms of trafficking, including trafficking in children for sexual purposes. A draft Bill on the Convention’s second Protocol; the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; has been successfully drafted and UNODC is hopeful that this piece of draft legislation will be successfully enacted since this would create the legal tools needed to significantly address the challenges that are associated with migrant smuggling in The Gambia.