The Government Of Sierra Leone is set to host the Regional Conference of ECOWAS States on Ending Human Trafficking 2023 on the 25th and 26th April, 2023 at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

This was made known through a press release issued out on the 13th April, 2023.

According to the release, the event is set to creates opportunity to build deep cooperation between ECOWAS member states in the fight to end human trafficking.

A Keynote speech is said to be delivered by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Read the Press Release;

”FREETOWN, Sierra Leone 13th April 2023-As part of its commitment to protect the lives of citizens in Sierra Leone, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Office of the Vice President is pleased to announce the inaugural Regional Conference of ECOWAS States on Ending Human Trafficking 2023.

The two-day Regional Conference of ECOWAS States on Ending Human Trafficking 2023 will be hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Programming & Research Initiative to End Slavery (APRIES) at the University of Georgia. The conference will take place on Tuesday 25th April and Wednesday 26th April at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone. A keynote speech will be delivered by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

There will be 300 national and international participants from the public and private sector, in addition to individuals and groups with lived experiences. They will share experiences from their respective anti- trafficking action plans and collaborate to enhance the implementation of existing laws and policies and strengthen regional tools and mechanisms to bolster the region’s collective action against trafficking.

The crime of human trafficking plagues every country across the world and countering the problem in West Africa requires an approach specific to the region. It is an essential step in forging a collaborative strategy against the scourge of trafficking in persons that is tailored to the experiences and strengths of regional governments.

The first objective is to implement ECOWAS members’ respective TIP action plans within the context of their existing domestic, regional and international laws. Secondly, to strengthen political support at the highest level on anti-trafficking policy development and implementation. Thirdly, to identify opportunities to strengthen regional data collection and sharing to improve on the detection of trafficking and the provision of support to survivors and create a roadmap for implementation. Finally, to increase regional and global awareness on human trafficking in ECOWAS member states and bolster collective action across the region’’.