By Sariba Manneh
In its quest to combat human trafficking in The Gambia, the National Agency against Trafficking In Persons (NAATIP) Monday began a five-day training for intake 15 of The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) numbering 250 personnel.
The capacity-building training ongoing at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) also forms part of the agency’s commitment to combating this heinous crime, thus safeguarding the rights and dignity of those most susceptible.
The training also seeks to expose the new intake to issues relating to key indicators and signs to be able to detect and save victims of TIP and the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which will attract 50 participants per day during the week.
Welcoming the gathering, Isatou Dabo, Executive Director of NAATIP, underscored the importance of the training, while acknowledging that for a majority of the participants, the advocacy will be one of the many professional training they will undergo at the start of their careers as immigration personnel.
“Secondly, the topics in which you will be trained are topics that are very technical in nature and you probably would not have received any form of training in this regard in your day-to-day training of becoming an immigration officer,” she expounded.
To that end, she highlighted the importance of the forum which seeks to arm participants with the requisite skills and knowledge on some of the indicators and signs to be able to detect and save victims of TIPs.
The training, she added, is the first time in the country that such a large number of security personnel are being trained on issues relating to human trafficking.
Madam Dabo, however, noted that it is not about the number, but the impact the training would create in their continued advocacy to stem the rise of this heinous crime in the country.
Dabo, while underscoring the role and mandate of security officers in combating human trafficking, further acknowledged that security personnel have a fundamental, key, and vital role in what the agency does.
“You are a key stakeholder and a partner and this is the start of strengthening the already existing collaboration between GID and the Agency.”
Representing the Director General of The Gambia Immigration Department, Ebrima Jahateh, Deputy DG GID, hailed the training as ‘laudable and timely,’ saying the activity is in line with the Department’s strategy plan which envisages a vibrant and resilient workforce for development.
The activity, he added, also goes to show further that the Department is not working in isolation, but rather through positive collaboration and exchange of experiences towards meeting the ultimate goal of protecting the citizens.
“I am sure that you and the participants will be adequately informed of the responsibilities of dealing with such issues as you partake in this service to the nation.”
Assistant DG Jahateh reminded the new intake of the mantra of monitoring the movement of people within and outside of the country, saying their presence to engage in this activity for professional development is by no means accidental.
Human trafficking, he added, is a serious and complex crime that involves the exploitation of people for various crimes such as forced labour, sexual exploitation, and involuntary servitude.
He reminded the officers of their crucial role in identifying and assisting in the curbing this menace, hence the importance of the activity.
