The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Finance, has reinforced its commitment to supporting victims of human trafficking by transferring Fifty Thousand New Leones (SLE50,000) into the Victims of Human Trafficking (VOT) Trust Fund.

An additional Fifty Thousand New Leones (SLE50,000) is currently held at the Bank of Sierra Leone, with plans to transfer the funds into the VOT Trust Fund Account in the coming days.

This contribution is part of the Ministry of Finance’s quarterly allocation to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Task Force Secretariat.

Dehunge Shiaka, Executive Director of the ATIP Task Force Secretariat, emphasized that the government’s financial support aims to provide comprehensive care for trafficking victims, particularly women and children.

The funds will also be used to establish a recovery or shelter facility for male victims in the Western Area, a key recommendation in the 2024 Global Trafficking in Persons Report issued by the US Department of State.

Currently, the country’s only specialized VOT shelter caters to the needs of women, girls, and boys, leaving a gap in services for male victims.

In addition to the government’s contributions, efforts to support trafficking victims have been further boosted by a grant of Thirty-Five Thousand US Dollars (equivalent to SLE805,000) from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The ATIP Task Force Secretariat is collaborating with the Ministry of Social Welfare to access this grant, which will be implemented through the VOT Trust Fund over a six-month period.

The VOT Trust Fund was established under Section 11 of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act of 2022 and was officially launched on February 23rd, 2024, by Her Excellency the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, who serves as the National Anti-Human Trafficking Champion.

These financial contributions mark a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of trafficking victims into society.