1 Responses to challenges Outline of the session 1. 1.Institutional responses at REC level (ECOWAS Commission) 2. 2.IOM CT experience in WA 3. 3.Mobility Platform 4. 4.The Mixed Migration flow approach 5. 5.Case study

Regional Framework for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons 2 ECOWAS Commission

ECOWAS Trafficking in Persons Unit The initial plan of action envisaged the creation of an ECOWAS Trafficking in Persons Unitinitial plan of action The TiP-Unit was established in 2005 The Mandate includes the following points Coordination of the implementation of the plan of action Review of the implementation Regular report on progress Mission of the TiP-Unit « Creation of institutions, procedures and strengthening of capacities of Member States to fight trafficking in persons and the protection of the rights of children »

Strategic approach of the TiP-Unit Review and Evaluation Capacity building Development of stadards and norms ECOWAS Commission

Legal instruments for the TiP-Unit Legal instruments for the TiP-Unit Palermo ProtocolPalermo Protocol ECOWAS Plan of Action against trafficking in personsECOWAS Plan of Action against trafficking in persons Joint ECOWAS – ECCAS DeclarationJoint ECOWAS – ECCAS Declaration UN Convention on the rights of the childUN Convention on the rights of the child CEDAWCEDAW ILO Convention 182ILO Convention 182 African Union instrumentsAfrican Union instruments ECOWAS Commission

ECOWAS Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons The plan of action includes the ECOWAS-ECCAS plan of action The plan of action covers the period up to 2011 Seven main points of action Legal framework and policy development Protection and assistance for victims of trafficking Prevention and sensitization Collection, exchange and analysis of information Specialization and training Travel Documents and ID Review and evaluation of the initial plan of action ECOWAS Commission

Recent Activities Production of a documentary on trafficking in West Africa Launch for the AU COMMIT campaign in West Africa for the implementation of the Ouagadougou Action planOuagadougou Action plan Training Manuel on the fight against Trafficking in Persons (done with the technical support of IOM) Basic concept of Trafficking in Persons Cooperation and establishment of networks Strategy for cooperation and establishment of networks Practical phase of cooperation Formalizing engagements and decision making Best practices in cooperation Up-dating indicators ECOWAS TiP-Unit ECOWAS Commission

Planned Activities 2010 – 2015 (selection) Continuation of policy development and appropriate legal instruments Review of existing legislation on their conformity with international standards Launch of a regional fund for victims of trafficking Assistance to Member States in the development of national plans of action Strengthening operational links between all involved actors Strengthening national capacities in Prevention, Protection and Prosecution Sensitization of the public on TiP and the rights of the child Launch of a interactive platform to exchange information amongst national agencies ECOWAS Commission

Planned Activities 2010 – 2015 (selection) Media sensitization Nominate ambassadors against TiP Develop methodologies to evaluate progress made in the fight against TiP and child protection Annual reports on the implementation progress of the action plan ECOWAS Commission

Vertical coherence in TiP Vertical coherence in TiP Palermo Ouagadougou ECOWAS Member States ECOWAS Commission

Cooperation amongst actors Cooperation amongst actors Member States Reg. + Int. Organisations Civil Society Victims ECOWAS Commission

IOM CT experience in West Africa on direct assistance to VoTs Program for the Return and Reintegration of children victims of trafficking in West Africa ( ) PRM funded project 545 children have beneficiated from this Program Gender breakdown : 475 male and 90 female T.E: 368 forced begging; 178 forced labour and so on Package provided: accommodation in places of safety, medical and psychosocial support, skills development and vocational training, reintegration assistance, and the options of voluntary, safe and dignified return to countries of origin, etc. Networking and capacity building of NGOs Creation of coordination mechanisms throughout the region

Regional initiative The Mobility Platform Researches on mobility of children and youngsters in West Africa ( ) Transnational partnership: Save the Children, UNICEF, Mouvement Africain des Enfants et Jeunes Travailleurs (MAEJT), Enda Jeunesse Action, ILO, Plan International, IOM, Terres des Hommes; New paradigm: trafficking exists and actors should fight against this crime. However mobility is a right and should be backed to guarantee minimum standards for child protection Thus, Not only look into all mobility cases from a trafficking point of view Researches carried out in Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Guinea Conakry gave insight into endogenous mechanisms of child protection

14 Protection challenges in a mixed migration flows context

Regional Conference on Refugee Protection and International Migration in West Africa Dakar, November 2008 The premise: 1. West Africa is a region of migration 2. There are serious challenges in the field of protection of the rights of migrants in the region

2008 Dakar Conference Organised jointly by UNHCR, IOM and the ECOWAS Commission, in cooperation with OHCHR Examination and establishment into the migration dialogue: the concept of mixed migration flows Diffrerent categories of persons on the move in the region, same space/time Need to update protection mechanisms for people on the move, by implementation of existing frameworks and agreement

Dakar 2008 Recommendations Solutions through free movement of ECOWAS citizens within the ECOWAS region Enhancing local capacities for refugee status determination and addressing secondary movements of asylum seekers and refugees Combating trafficking and implementing the Ouagadougou Plan of Action Enhancing Border Management while ensuring protection Addressing challenges to Human Rights protection Options for migrants who are not citizens of ECOWAS countries Return of non-refugees Enhancing legal migration: alternatives to dangerous irregular migration?

IOM organized two regional training workshops in Ouagadougou (April 2010) and Accra (May 2010) titled “Protecting People on the Move in the ECOWAS Space” - - In partnership with the ECOWAS Commission and UN partners (UNHCR, OHCHR, ILO, UNICEF), with support from the US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration - - The workshop followed the recommendations of a conference held in Dakar in 2008 on refugee protection and migration issues - - A Follow-Up Group of this Conference has been established which brings together ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNHCR and the Red Cross Movement - - The workshop was coordinated through the group, in effect acting as the mixed migration protection coordination group for the regional offices in Dakar Protecting People on the Move

Protecting People on the Move National Workshop 19

Protecting People on the Move - - The workshops targeted organizations involved in migrant and refugee protection in eight countries (Benin, Burkina, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo) - - to facilitate cooperation in the mixed migration context: A representative from a National Counter Trafficking Committee/Taskforce A representative from a National Committee of Refugee Eligibility A representative from a National Human Rights Institution A representative from a prominent NGO working on migration

Accra and Ouagadougou workshops:   Looked at the different categories of people on the move, their different needs of assistance, and referrals mechanisms to be envisaged between organizations with different mandates   Facilitation of the implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocols   Participants agreed to work on national follow-up to take forward the issues Protecting People on the Move

Referrals – Example IOM and UNHCR have developed a Framework Document for Developing Standard Operating Procedures to Facilitate the Protection of Trafficked Persons A reference tool for both agencies to use on national level to increase collaboration in cases of trafficking: - - refugees who are victims of trafficking - - victims of trafficking who are refugees

Referrals – Example Cooperation needed especially in: - - identification of victims of trafficking - - provision of protection and assistance - - promotion of durable solutionsdurable solutions

Referrals – Example The Framework document specifies institutional roles, principles for cooperation Common ground and understanding Institutional commitment Principles based on application of international human rights law, including refugee law Also introduces the SOPs

Case Study Read the story of Antonio Read the story of Antonio Turn to your neighbour and discuss (5 mins): Turn to your neighbour and discuss (5 mins): - Is Antonio a victim of trafficking? Why yes, why no? - What other labels can be given to Antonio?

Case Study - - Underprivileged, poor, rural… - - Sold? - - Separated, migrant, on the move, labour migrant… - - Child labourer, victim… - - Irregular migrant, UAM, street, in conflict with the law… Depends on information and interpretation!

Case Study Think of a time Antonio comes into contact with the following: - - Police - - Labor inspector - - Social worker - - Immigration official Turn to your neighbour and discuss (10 mins): - - Why would they come into contact with Antonio? - - Which label would they be likely to give? - - What is the professional goal of each?

Thank you for your attention: For more informations