National Mobilization Conference on the protection & suppression of human trafficking & smuggling held in Addis Ababa
A national conference on prevention and suppression of human trafficking and smuggling of person in Ethiopia has been officially launched on March 3, 2021 at Sheraton Addis hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
6 March 2021
Alexio Musindo
In his keynote address, Mr. Alexio Musindo, ILO Director in the horn explained that trafficking in persons and human smuggling has been a major concern of the ILO since its inception in 1919, over a century ago. To this effect, the International Labour Standards adopted by the ILO are important instruments for safeguarding the dignity and rights of migrant workers, including those trafficked and smuggled.
In his opening remark, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia, H. E. Mr. Demeke Mekonen on his part explained that due to human trafficking and smuggling, citizens are exposed to different harms and modern day slavery.
H.E. Dr. Ergoge Tesfaye, Minister of labour and social affairs, Ethiopia in her welcoming address reiterated that irregular migration has become a major concern of the Government, as it is affecting our youth and resulting in inhuman treatment, physical & mental injury, theft of body parts as well as economic crises among our people. She further highlighted the need to resist this immoral act and to stand together to tackle this global phenomenon.
In his concluding remark, Mr. Musindo stated,
The ILO supports the efforts of the Government, social partners and Civil Societies to address and reduce irregular migration by improving labour migration governance and making regular labour migration more accessible and desirable to potential migrants in Ethiopia through its project “Improved labour migration governance to protect migrant workers and combat irregular migration in Ethiopia” funded by United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
In his keynote address, Mr. Alexio Musindo, ILO Director in the horn explained that trafficking in persons and human smuggling has been a major concern of the ILO since its inception in 1919, over a century ago. To this effect, the International Labour Standards adopted by the ILO are important instruments for safeguarding the dignity and rights of migrant workers, including those trafficked and smuggled.
In his opening remark, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia, H. E. Mr. Demeke Mekonen on his part explained that due to human trafficking and smuggling, citizens are exposed to different harms and modern day slavery.
“Even though the government is working hard in tackling human trafficking and smuggling, it demands our joint effort in creating awareness among the community at large.” H.E. Mr. Demeke, emphasised the need for our collective action to shape & activate mass mobilization and awareness creation among the public at large, so as to combat human trafficking and smuggling in Ethiopia
H.E. Dr. Ergoge Tesfaye, Minister of labour and social affairs, Ethiopia in her welcoming address reiterated that irregular migration has become a major concern of the Government, as it is affecting our youth and resulting in inhuman treatment, physical & mental injury, theft of body parts as well as economic crises among our people. She further highlighted the need to resist this immoral act and to stand together to tackle this global phenomenon.
In his concluding remark, Mr. Musindo stated,
The sharp increase in unemployment rates brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to increase trafficking in persons and human smuggling. No one actor can tackle the demand alone. Root causes and contributing factors that fuel the demand are spread across countries of origin, transit and destination, and they cannot be addressed in isolation from supply.” Therefore, “We are here today because we are allies in a fight for human life and dignity. No matter the differences in our mandates, we should all stand together, with perseverance and determination, in opposing this grave evil.”
The ILO and MoLSA presented migration trends and dynamic, at global, regional, sub-regional and nation level as well as proposed action plan for the short and medium term. The national mobilization conference was concluded with Regional Presidents and their Representative making an oath to tackle human trafficking and smuggling within their respective Regions. President of the High Court, Regional Presidents, Ministers, senior government officials, State & private Medias, Development partners as well as representatives of international organizations attended the conference.
The ILO supports the efforts of the Government, social partners and Civil Societies to address and reduce irregular migration by improving labour migration governance and making regular labour migration more accessible and desirable to potential migrants in Ethiopia through its project “Improved labour migration governance to protect migrant workers and combat irregular migration in Ethiopia” funded by United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
A national conference on prevention and suppression of human trafficking and smuggling of person in Ethiopia has been officially launched on March 3, 2021 at Sheraton Addis hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.