NAATIP arms Tourism Security Unit against human trafficking

The event was part of a broader awareness campaign aimed at curbing this growing practice of human trafficking as a commodity. The agency has also conducted a series of trainings in the past for security and other law enforcement officials, particularly on issues related to the National Referral Mechanism and TIP.

Isatou Dabo, Director of the National Agency against Trafficking in Human Beings, welcomed the participants and described the training as a very important and fundamental part of the awareness-raising and training campaigns they have been carrying out in recent years.

She acknowledged that in the past they have organised a series of trainings for a number of personnel from the Gambia Immigration Service (GID), Police, State Intelligence Service (SIS), Drug Enforcement Agency Gambia (DLEAG) and others.

“We all know that sexual exploitation is a huge problem when it comes to human trafficking. If you go to the Tourism Development Area at any point, you will see a lot of young girls and in most cases men who are in the sex industry and who we would normally call prostitutes.”

However, she added that over time people will realise that not everyone we see along the Senegambia strip or in the tourism development area is doing sex work voluntarily.

“Some of them or a large number of them are victims of human trafficking, so it is important that as law enforcement, when we encounter these individuals, we do not re-victimize them.”

She added that the training is important because it helps security distinguish between someone who is a victim of human trafficking and someone who chooses to work as a sex worker.

“That’s why we need training and a step-by-step guide when it comes to victim identification.”

She also stressed that security should be aware of the National Referral Mechanism and what the document is about.

She called on everyone to be steadfast during the training and be willing to learn and share experiences with colleagues.

“During this training I don’t know everything about human trafficking because human trafficking changes daily and we learn as we go. Likewise, no question is a stupid question. Let’s respect each other’s opinion and if you don’t understand, ask.”