“Trafficking in persons throughout Ethiopia is a shared problem that requires a coordinated response based on solidarity, responsibility and increased practical engagement to prosecute criminals, support victims and enhance partnership to mitigate the human trafficking phenomenon and better understand the push and pull factors involved.” – Sharon Dimanche, Migration Management Programme Coordinator, IOM 

Thursday 29^th May, 2014 saw the launching of the development of a new National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons inEthiopia. In his opening speech H.E. Dr. Zerihun Kebede, State Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, described trafficking in persons as being one of the most challenging bottlenecks inEthiopia’s development endeavor. The Minister also insisted that human traffickers were violating human dignity and fundamental human rights. Lately, attention has been drawn to this issue and the Government of Ethiopia strongly committed to address the problem with support from stakeholders drawn from diverse segments of society: government, civil society organizations, private sector and the international community. 

Thanks to a project entitled Enhancing National Capacities and Cooperation for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), funded by the Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) and implemented by IOM, the consultative workshop enabled more than 80 representatives from such diverse segments as UN agencies, donors, MoLSA, MoWYCA, MoJ, MoH, Government Communication Affairs Office, Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Ethiopian Human Right Commission, Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman, Ethiopian Airport Enterprise, Ethiopian Youth Federation, Addis Ababa City Administration, Oromia Regional Administration, religious associations, private recruitment agencies, representatives from the private sector, members of academia and civil society organizations involved in assistance and reintegration of VoT, to brainstorm their ideas and suggest actions and policies to be included in the future National Action Plan. Group discussions were divided into 6 thematic areas: administration, service provision, education, law and prosecution, capacity building and research. After group discussions, the participants assembled in a plenary session to discuss the issues at stake in the ENAP and to share their recommendations and concerns. The day proved very successful as all participants came up with numerous ideas and discussions proved very animated. 

In line with the United Nations’ Trafficking in Persons Protocol, the ENAP will guarantee prevention from human trafficking by addressing the root causes of migration. It shall also increase the protection of migrants all along the migration route, prosecute human traffickers and foster partnership between all stakeholders in order to provide a comprehensive and adapted response to trafficking in persons. The ENAP is still in the making as two other consultative workshops will be conducted in June and July. It should be released by the end of August 2014.