Gender Ministry Builds Capacity of Tourism and Sports Stakeholders to Fight Human Trafficking
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has called for stronger action to prevent human trafficking in tourism, travel and sports, as part of efforts to protect vulnerable persons from exploitation.
The appeal was made during a two-day capacity training and awareness-raising session organised by the Ministry’s Human Trafficking Secretariat in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
In a keynote statement delivered on her behalf by the Ministry’s Chief Director, Dr Marian W. A. Kpakpah, the sector minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey said traffickers could exploit the movement of people through tourism, travel and sporting events to facilitate exploitation.
She called for increased awareness, ethical recruitment practices and effective referral systems to help identify persons at risk and provide them with appropriate protection and support.
Dr Lartey said human trafficking was a violation of human dignity, freedom and fundamental human rights and required coordinated action from institutions across different sectors.
She also urged organisations offering employment, travel and sporting opportunities to ensure transparency in recruitment and provide accurate information about the terms and conditions of such opportunities.
The programme brought together representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Tourism Federation, travel and tour agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
Participants discussed the links between human trafficking, migration, tourism and child exploitation, as well as victim identification, the National Referral Mechanism, safeguarding and child protection.
They also conducted sector-specific risk mapping to identify vulnerabilities in tourism, sports, travel and recruitment and explored measures to strengthen prevention, victim protection and referral services.
The engagement is expected to improve collaboration among government institutions, tourism operators, sporting organisations, recruitment agencies, civil society organisations and development partners in the fight against human trafficking.
Priscilla Osei-Wusu Nimako, ISD
