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Politics News

Lawmaker urges Liberians to mourn


Senate President Pro – Tempore Albert T. Chie says the World Day Against Trafficking should not be a day of joyous celebrations, but should rather be observed as a sad, mournful and pensive period as Liberia remembers thousands of human beings who have been victimized by traffickers.


“In my mind such a day should rather not be a day to celebrate but a day to ponder and take vigorous actions against this inhumane practice that has gravely permeated our society and the world at large,” Sen. Chie said Monday, 30 July at the Monrovia City Hall.

He has therefore committed the Legislature to enact stronger laws and provide budgetary support to the fight against human trafficking and other related crimes.

Pro – Tempore Chie’s comment came when he served as keynote speaker during the observance of the World Day Against Trafficking here.

According to him, government will continue to maintain partnership with international organizations, community leaders, the private sectors, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations to fight against human trafficking and all other forms of human rights abuses.

Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery and it undermines national security.

According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other institutions, it enriches national and transnational criminals and terrorist organizations and contributes to money laundering.

During the first official program marking the celebration of World Day Against Trafficking, Sen. Chie says despite the numerous economic challenges, government is committed to providing resources to fight human trafficking and other forms of human rights abuses in the country.

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Giving the historicity of legislation against trafficking, the Grand Kru County Senator indicated that in 2005, Liberia alerted the world and “would-be perpetrators” that the Government of Liberia was ready for the fight against trafficking in the country.

That year, he recalls that members of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) passed an Act that banned and criminalized all forms of human trafficking in Liberia.

He says it was followed by the establishment of the National Taskforce along with its Secretariat. A 2016 Global Report on Human Trafficking in persons prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes says the most common forms of human trafficking globally are mainly attributed to sexual exploitation, and forced labor.

The report indicates that women make up the largest proportion of traffickers for sexual purposes. The UN report says about 20 percent of all trafficking victims are children, and that most trafficking is intra-regional and domestic.

“We call on our institutions of learning to put security measures in place to especially safeguard the little ones who are easily victimized,” he says. He wants parents and the community to be vigilant. Other speakers at the event including Labour Minister Moses Y. Kollie, Gender Minister Williametta P. Saydee Tarr and partners called for collective efforts in the fight against trafficking in persons and other related crimes. –Press release

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