Joint UN Resource Mobilization for the Counter Trafficking and Migration Policy and Practice in Ethiopia

The project aims to contribute to the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to address human trafficking, smuggling and irregular migration, youth unemployment and uphold the rights of migrants.

Human trafficking and irregular migration is a serious concern for Ethiopia, affecting youth- migrating in the hope of reaching the Arabian Peninsula, Europe, and South Africa.

Most of these migrants and refugees pursue irregular migration for economic opportunities, where female are particularly engaged as domestic workers and male work in herding, construction, as drivers among other things. Some vulnerable migrants are also victims of trafficking, falling prey in the hands of traffickers.

The absolute gravity of the human rights violations faced by both trafficked and smuggled persons along the migratory routes, as indicated by first-hand testimonies of survivors, has indeed been the driving force for the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to prioritize counter-trafficking and migration management in its national initiatives.

This project, in support to the Government of Ethiopia’s, identified initiatives against human trafficking and smuggling and provides a holistic response to human trafficking and irregular migration and uphold migrants’ and refugees rights, by:
  1. Enhancing the Government of Ethiopia’s capacity to manage migration including migration for development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, labour migration and forced migration;
  2. Strengthening the criminal justice response towards trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants (in particular but not limited to strengthening the capacity of GoE to prosecute traffickers and smugglers, to protect victims and witnesses; to strengthen relations with transit and destination countries; to tackle transnational organized crime);
  3. Increasing awareness raising for the population of concern;
  4. Building the capacity of migrants and private employment agencies;
  5. Increasing availability of basic services and livelihood strategies, youth employment in order to provide alternatives to trafficking and irregular movements.