Aiming to respond to the challenges of Trafficking in Person, the International Organization for Migration in Ethiopia (IOM SLO Ethiopia) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) have organized a two day validation workshop of the Ethiopian National Plan of Action (ENPA) on 10 to 11 March, 2015. The event held in Addis Ababa, has gathered participants from Government, civil society, Private Employment Agencies (PEAs), religious institutions and private sector at federal and regional levels. The purpose of the workshop was to review Ethiopia’s brand new National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons under the leadership of the Ethiopian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The document is paving the way towards a holistic long term and effective response to trafficking in persons for 2015-2020, which coincides with the new Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II), Ethiopia’s main policy document.

The workshop was inaugurated by H.E. Dr. Zerihun Kebede, State Minister of Labour and Social Affairs as well as Mr. Zhao Jian, Deputy Chief of Mission of IOM’s special liaison office in Addis Ababa. Both officials stressed the importance of ENAP in coordinating efforts and reinforcing the commitments at all levels to combat trafficking in persons in Ethiopia. The State Minister also described the Plan of Action as being part of a wider set of governmental measures that will – directly or indirectly – help Ethiopia to combat trafficking in persons, such as enhancing legal migration options for seeking a job abroad and upholding migrants’ right to safety and dignity in their work.

It is to be recalled that the development of the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons in Ethiopia was first launched on Thursday 29th May, 2014.

In line with the United Nations’ Trafficking in Persons Protocol, ENAP will guarantee prevention from human trafficking by addressing the root causes of migration. It will 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 project is financed by the US Department of State Trafficking in Person (J/TIP).

For more information, please contact

Alemayehu Seifeselassie
IOM Ethiopia
Tel: +251.11. 6611117 (Ext. 455)
Email: salemayehu@iom.int