Gender Ministry, IOM build stakeholders’ capacity to combat human trafficking in tourism and sports

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, has convened a two-day session to enhance capacity and raise awareness about combating human trafficking in the tourism and sports industries. Held from September 30 to October 1, the event brought together representatives from relevant sectors to discuss vulnerabilities related to travel, recruitment, tourism, and sporting activities, as well as strategies to prevent exploitation and improve victim support.

The program, managed through the Ministry's Human Trafficking Secretariat, focused on how traffickers exploit legitimate travel and sports activities to facilitate the movement and abuse of vulnerable individuals. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry's Chief Director, Dr Marian W. A. Kpakpah, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness, promoting ethical recruitment practices, and establishing effective referral mechanisms to identify at-risk individuals and ensure they receive proper protection and assistance.

Lartey stressed that human trafficking is not only a criminal justice issue but also an attack on human dignity, freedom, and fundamental human rights. She called for coordinated efforts across sectors to address this problem and urged for transparent and responsible recruitment practices for employment, travel, and sporting opportunities. She urged that individuals receive accurate information about opportunities, terms, and conditions before engaging in such activities.