Abuja to Host Launch of the AU Commission Initiative against Trafficking in Person

18 Mar 2010 13:42 Africa/Lagos

Launch of the AU Commission Initiative against Trafficking in Person AU. Commit Campaign

ADDIS ABABA, March 18, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Invitation to representatives of the media

WHEN 24-26 March 2010

The launch will be organized in two phases:


`a) Launch of AU. Commit


24 March 2010 (morning session)


b) Regional Consultative Workshop


24(afternoon) – 26 March 2010

WHERE Abuja, Republic of Nigeria

WHO Department of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC), hosted by the Government of Nigeria

WHY : Need to raise awareness on the devastative effect of human trafficking given the increasing rate of trafficking witnessed within the continent, in accordance with the African Union Executive Council Decision on child trafficking as well as the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, especially women and children.

Objectives: The objectives of the consultative workshop include:

To promote effective ways of networking, coordination and cooperation among Member States, RECs and partner organizations to address trafficking in persons in Africa in more strategic manner.

To sensitize the RECs and ECOWAS Member States on the operationalization of the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, in particular women and children.

To raise awareness of the AU's commitment towards tackling the problem of trafficking in human beings through out the continenet.

Expected outcomes: the Regional Consultative Workshop on the AU.COMMIT campaign is expected to formulate a clear way forward among the RECs on the translation of the Ouagadougou Action Plan into measures and common standards for preventing explore trafficking, prosecuting traffickers and providing assistance to victims of trafficking. The Regional Consultative Workshop will also explore:


The roles of government, CSO, Media and International Partners


Identify best practices

Outline set of recommendations on the way forward

Cooperation among AU Commission, partners and Civil Society Organizations and the Media strengthened

Participants will include:

AU Commission

Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

ECOWAS Member States

The League of Arab States

Civil Society Organizations

Development Partners and INTERPOL

The Pan African Parliament

African Commission on Human Rights and Welfare

Background:
In January 2007 the African Union adopted the Executive Council Decision EX.CL/Dec.324 (X) which endorsed the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, Especially Women and Children. The decision called upon the Chairperson of the AU Commission in collaboration with IOM and other partners to advocate for the implementation of the Action Plan. Furthermore, the Commission in collaboration with IOM was requested to assist Member States with the development and implementation of sound migration policies aimed at addressing trafficking in human beings, especially women and children. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is to report periodically on the implementation of the Ouagadougou Action Plan. It also calls the International Community to continue providing assistance towards the attainment of the objectives contained in the Ouagadougou Action Plan.


Source: African Union Commission (AUC)