Addis Ababa - A consultative and experience-sharing workshop between Inter-government Authority for Development (lGAD) and the African Union-Horn of Africa Initiative (AU-HoAI) took place this week (20 – 22 May) with the aim of mainstreaming counter trafficking and smuggling interventions at national, regional and inter-Regional Economic Community levels.

The workshop, which shared best practices on regional migration governance, was attended by participants from AU-HoAI and IGAD member states, AU Commission and IGAD Secretariat officials, and experts from the UN Migration Agency IOM.

Both IGAD and AU-HoAI have established processes to tackle human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and the majority of their membership overlap. It was considered important by the two entities to convene to discuss ways of achieving synergy, especially following IGAD’s formal acceptance to become a member of the AU-HoAI in 2018.

IGAD established a Regional Consultative Process (RCP) on Migration in the Horn and East Africa region, that serves as an important platform for dialogue on relevant migration related issues in the region. 

These dialogues have contributed to the region’s capacity in dealing with migration and, more significantly, have charted clear mechanisms to address specific challenges.

Moreover, IGAD’s 6^th RCP was dedicated to trafficking and smuggling issues in the region, giving IGAD member states accumulated experience and knowledge in the area of harmonization of national polices and the formulation of regional policy frameworks.

 Correspondingly, AU-HoAI’s experience in prevention of trafficking and smuggling, strengthening of protection and assistance to victims, and strengthening of rule of law, prosecution and border management is important for monitoring the scope of trafficking and smuggling in the region.

During the workshop, the two entities reviewed their respective approaches, working structure and ongoing projects and activities. They also reviewed the role that National Coordination Mechanisms (NCMs) play in coordinating national responses to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

Representatives of member states shared their experiences with migration governance at the national level, which opened discussion on how to mainstream counter-trafficking measures in national action plans.

According to Mr Charles Obila, Migration Officer at IGAD Secretariat, “all countries in the region are source, transit and destination countries which makes trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling rife throughout the region, and of growing concern to member countries”.

It was revealed that member states of IGAD and AU-HoAI are at different levels of setting up these NCMs, implying different capacities to respond to human trafficking and migrant smuggling in a coordinated manner.

As fora that convenes government stakeholders who work on migration functions, it was agreed that National Coordination Mechanisms (NCMs) play a crucial role in migration governance at the country level. Delegates emphasised NCMs’ role in providing structures and legal frameworks for the implementation of Standard Operation Procedures for National Referral Mechanisms (NRM).

Ideas on how to formulate and implement legislation and policy frameworks were raised. Preventive efforts such as social mobilization and information campaigns through radio programmes and community conversations were also highlighted.

Moreover, bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) and regional collaborations with other governments on irregular movements related to human trafficking and smuggling of migrants were looked at, as the gathering searched for effective ways to strengthen counter trafficking and smuggling.

Among the good practices that were mentioned, was setting up of national task forces using whole-of-government approach and stronger regional cooperation between law enforcement officials.

Specific contributions of national mechanisms are also expected to be used by IGAD member states to update and share data on migration, and to facilitate opportunities for joint actions for countries such as cross border and transnational initiatives.

Delegates agreed to take stock of ongoing projects on human trafficking and migrant smuggling carried out by IGAD, AU-HoAI, Better Migration Management (BMM) and other active partners.

They also called for a joint action plan between AU-HoAI and IGAD for counter trafficking and migrant smuggling to be developed, as well as a strategy for joint resource mobilization.