By Ebenezer SABUTEY
As Ghana maintains its tier 2 rating status on human trafficking, according to the 2011 USA Trafficking in Persons Report, it is making additional remarkable accomplishments which include the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs national plan of action on human trafficking, currently under review by a committee set up by the ministry.
Human trafficking in the country recorded a total of 110 cases under the previous year, with 85under investigation, three persons prosecuted so far and three others convicted, facilitated by the ministry.
Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, disclosed in an interview that human trafficking is estimated to be the third most profitable illegal economic business, in addition to illicit drugs and arms trafficking.
International Labour Organisation (ILO), a global alliance against Forced Labor 2005, estimates that US$32billion total annual profits are generated by the human trafficking industry.
US$15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries, US$9.7 billion in Asia and US$13,000 per year is generated on average by each forced labor.
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the supplementing protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, as well as the protocol against smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air oblige all state parties to domesticate International Instruments within their national framework.
In compliance to the above obligation, according to the minister, Ghana enacted the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) and is currently pursuing efforts to amend Act 573 to tackle human trafficking and smuggling. The LI to the Act 694 is being developed to supplement the substantive Act 694.
She said one effective strategy to tackle the menace of human trafficking and smuggling is through partnership to counter the phenomena to address prevention, protection and prosecution, as well as rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims.
The minister therefore pointed out that focusing on research, data and documentation of interventions is another effective strategy and that while data would facilitate planning, programming, research is intended to highlight the real issues that need to be addressed in human trafficking and smuggling.
She also indicated that the successes chalked in the ratings are remarkable, but noted that the report highlights on challenges relating to prosecution, victim protection and inadequate capacities of partners among others.
She assured that her ministry will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure the protection of women and children and the vulnerable in society who fall prey to human traffickers and smugglers.
As Ghana maintains its tier 2 rating status on human trafficking, according to the 2011 USA Trafficking in Persons Report, it is making additional remarkable accomplishments which include the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs national plan of action on human trafficking, currently under review by a committee set up by the ministry.
Human trafficking in the country recorded a total of 110 cases under the previous year, with 85under investigation, three persons prosecuted so far and three others convicted, facilitated by the ministry.
Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, disclosed in an interview that human trafficking is estimated to be the third most profitable illegal economic business, in addition to illicit drugs and arms trafficking.
International Labour Organisation (ILO), a global alliance against Forced Labor 2005, estimates that US$32billion total annual profits are generated by the human trafficking industry.
US$15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries, US$9.7 billion in Asia and US$13,000 per year is generated on average by each forced labor.
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the supplementing protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, as well as the protocol against smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air oblige all state parties to domesticate International Instruments within their national framework.
In compliance to the above obligation, according to the minister, Ghana enacted the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) and is currently pursuing efforts to amend Act 573 to tackle human trafficking and smuggling. The LI to the Act 694 is being developed to supplement the substantive Act 694.
She said one effective strategy to tackle the menace of human trafficking and smuggling is through partnership to counter the phenomena to address prevention, protection and prosecution, as well as rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims.
The minister therefore pointed out that focusing on research, data and documentation of interventions is another effective strategy and that while data would facilitate planning, programming, research is intended to highlight the real issues that need to be addressed in human trafficking and smuggling.
She also indicated that the successes chalked in the ratings are remarkable, but noted that the report highlights on challenges relating to prosecution, victim protection and inadequate capacities of partners among others.
She assured that her ministry will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure the protection of women and children and the vulnerable in society who fall prey to human traffickers and smugglers.
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