PRESS RELEASE – Samoa Hosts Validation Meeting for Capacity Assessment on Trafficking in Persons

Apia, Samoa - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Samoa Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) and the Fisheries Division, this week (04/09) convened to validate findings from Capacity Assessment on Trafficking in Persons.

This initiative is part of the regional project Labour Standards on Fishing Vessels, which supports Pacific Island Countries to address poor working conditions, labour rights violations and human trafficking on fishing vessels in the Pacific. The aim is to ensure that employment on fishing vessels in the region is safe, decent and worthwhile. The three-year project (2021-2024) is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The assessment, conducted in Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, examined Samoa's capacity to prevent and respond to trafficking in the five thematic areas: legislation and policy; coordination and partnerships; prevention; protection; and prosecution.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Police - Transnational Crime Unit, Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - Samoa Immigration, Ministry for Revenue - Customs (Biosecurity Division), Ministry of Women's, Community and Social Development, Samoa Shipping Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a serious human rights violation and a global crisis that affects millions of people worldwide. It involves the exploitation of individuals through coercion, force, fraud, or deception for purposes such as forced labour, sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude. This crisis is transnational and poses significant challenges not only to human rights but also to regional and global security, economic stability and social cohesion.

In the Pacific region, vulnerabilities related to geographic isolation, economic challenges and limited law enforcement capacities can exacerbate the risks of trafficking, particularly on fishing vessels, in remote communities, and among marginalized populations.

IOM has been working to combat human trafficking for over 20 years across the globe, through activities such as capacity building, research and data analysis and direct assistance to victims.

The final Country Assessment report is planned to be disseminated to broader stakeholders later this year to raise awareness of this important issue and promote collaborative actions to prevent human trafficking.

For more information, please contact Vernon Mckenzie at [email protected]

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SOURCE - IOM UN Migration

September 17, 2024

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