Abuja – Dr Daniel Eklu, Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS, said on Monday that combating Trafficking in Persons (TiP) was a priority for the ECOWAS Commission and its member states.
Eklu said this in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the annual review meeting on the implementation of the ECOWAS plan of action to combat trafficking in person.
“Everyday women and children are trafficked from one location to another by heartless individuals with the motive of exploiting them for selfish gains and exposing them to hardship.
“ This distasteful activity thrives as a result of challenges related to governance, instability, poverty, certain unhealthy traditional practices,’’ he said.
Eklu said these challenge put women and children at risk by exposing them to the activities of traffickers.
ECOWAS Chairman and Senegalese President, Macky Sall, called for concerted and coordinated efforts by member states to fight trafficking in Person in the region.
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Sall, who was represented by Mr Mody Ndiaye, Permanent secretary, Ministry of Justice, Senegal said rigorous actions among the ECOWAS member states drastically reduce the activities of traffikcers.
“It is necessary to exchange information and experiences among the ECOWAS member states in order to fight this threat that is fast growing and hindering growth in our region,’’ he noted.
Also speaking, Enira Krdzalic, Chief of Mission, International Organisation for Migration, said the meeting would contribute to protecting to TiP victims.
Mr Emmerentia Eramus, coordinator of Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa (FMM West Africa) said that FMM West Africa would continue to support ECOWAS in the fight against trafficking in persons. (NAN)
