MEDIA ADVISORY

Validation Meeting for AU Policies on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants

What: The African Union (AU) is pleased to invite media representatives to attend the validation meeting for the Draft Plan of Action for the Implementation of the AU Policies on the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Africa, in preparation for the Fifth Ordinary Session of The Specialized Technical Committee on Social Development, Labour and Employment (STC-SDLE-5).

When: 17^th – 19^th July 2024 at 08.30am (EAT)

Where: Mombasa, Kenya

Who: The meeting will bring together representatives from the AU Commission, AU member states, development partners, and civil society organizations.

Why Attend: In September 2021, the African Union Commission (AUC) adopted strong policies to combat trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants across Africa. These policies provide proposals that will not only aim at building the capacity of national institutions to respond to the challenges associated with TIP and SOM, but also to build a framework for partnership and collaboration at the continental level.

This validation meeting is a step in turning these policies into action. Here, media representatives will learn about the draft Plan of Action developed by the AUC. This plan outlines concrete steps to implement the AU's anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling policies.

Key discussion point and expected outcomes

• Validated draft Plan of Action for implementing the AU policies on preventing Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Africa. (Focuses on finalizing a practical plan to address these issues)
• Strengthened Capacity to establish reporting mechanisms for collecting data and monitoring activities of Trafficking in Persons. (Focuses on improving data collection and monitoring efforts to track and combat human trafficking)

Registration: Media representatives interested in attending the meeting are kindly requested to register by contacting King David Cartey - Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | African Union Commission Tel: +251 901090899 | E-mail: CarteyD@africa-union.org   | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Space is limited; therefore, early registration is encouraged.

About Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM)

The 25th Summit of the AU that met in Johannesburg in June 2015 reaffirmed its previous commitments aimed at accelerating mobility and integration. The Summit made a commitment to undertake, among others, the following actions.

In 2022 the continental policies on the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (TiP) in Africa was adopted. These documents provide member states and REC’S with guidelines on combatting the TIP and SOM respectively

Similar to the AU Migration Policy Framework for Africa (MPFA), the two continental policies urge Member States and RECs to amongst others to-:

• Forge and strengthen joint information and intelligence sharing.
• Conduct joint investigations and operations.
• Develop bilateral and regional mutual legal assistance and extradition frameworks as the legal basis for international cooperation in combatting TiP and SoM.

Other key documents to consider:

Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings especially Women and Children (2006).

Khartoum Declaration on the AU-Horn of Africa Initiative on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants: October 2014, Khartoum, Sudan.

For further information, please contact:

Geoffrey Wafula Kundu I Migration Program Coordinator | Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development | African Union Commission Tel: +251 909537897 | E-mail: Geoffreyk@africa-union.org  | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia|

For media Enquiries, please contact:

Ms Faith Adhiambo | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail:  ochiengj@african-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org |

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