The event held at the National Nutrition Agency, was aimed at exposing participants to some of the techniques in identifying of victims of TIP as well as understanding the indicators and the National Referral Mechanisms (NRM).
It will also allow participants to know the difference between TIP and Smuggling of Migrants and the administrative procedures to take when referring cases to the agency among other things.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Isatou Dabo, executive director of NAATIP, revealed that the agency has been in existence for a while now.
“And many a times when we identified issues of human trafficking, we all know that sexual exploitation stands at the heart of the matter.”
Dabo reminded that when one talks about sexual exploitation, sex workers in as much as you have them present around the country, but one key spot that would raise question is the Tourism Development Area.
She reminded that human trafficking, its results or consequences, sometimes manifest in various way that even the staff or personnel of a particular hotel, many not realise or suspect that this a human trafficking case.
NAATIP ED maintained that as an agency created primarily to combat cases of human trafficking as a form of transnational organised crime, they have in the past been engaged in so many trainings targeting law enforcement officers, civil society organisations, and key partners.
She, however, revealed that one important partner that somewhat has not been given the attention it deserves, is the staff of the hospitality industry like hoteliers and all those, who work as front-line officers within the hospitality industry.
Dabo thus described the event as a landmark initiative in the sense that the session will create a platform for participants to learn from resource persons and vice versa.
She noted that their individual experience in respect of what they believe transpires at the hospitality industry may vary but at the end of the day, they will be able to understand what human trafficking really is and to be able to make a distinction between TIP and Smuggling of Migrants.
“And to be able to understand what obtains in The Gambia in respect of human trafficking and understand their role as hoteliers and know what measures to adopt from the National Referral Mechanism in referring cases of human trafficking.”
She thus called on them to be steadfast and respect each other’s opinion as it is a learning process in their broader quest to make the country a safe haven for all.
