26th November 2014
The Seychelles has launched the national strategic framework and action plan and the media campaign to combat trafficking in persons. Under the laws of Seychelles, trafficking in persons is considered as an offence as stated in the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act, enacted in April 2014.
Following a UNODC workshop in 2011, it was recognized that the Seychelles did not have a coordinated approach towards the issue of trafficking in persons. Following this in 2012, an ad hoc National Committee was established by Cabinet of Ministers with its objectives being to draft strategies towards the coordination of agencies, to organise capacity building activities and training activities and to drive the process for legislation that addresses the issue of trafficking in persons.
The Seychelles also drafted a ‘Strategic Framework and National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons’. This was done through the collaborative efforts of the Ad hoc Committee, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Coordination Committee on TiP and the Seychelles Government.
The National Coordination Committee was set up as part of the recommendation by the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons Dr Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, who visited Seychelles in January this year. Civil Society is represented on the Committee by CEPS Chairperson Mr Jules Houareau.
Therefore as part of the national plan of action the local population will be sensitized on TiP. Perpetrators will be penalized and that access to justice of victims be improved. The relevant institution and technical persons will be capacity enabled so that they can implement policies. The national policy also aims at enhancing cooperation between stakeholders in prevention and prosecution of TiP.
The media campaign which has started since 24 of November under the theme ‘Open your Eyes’, is aimed at sensitizing the general public and stakeholders on TiP over the next coming months. The advert will be showcased in print, on television and radio as well as through a website and social media.
A website has also been launched and the link is www.tip.sc
Article 3 of the UN protocol defines trafficking in person’s as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the use of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
