Urgent need to make child protection a priority

A training workshop was launched on Wednesday to enhance the skills and knowledge of law enforcement and other key stakeholders on procedures and practices to combat human trafficking in Mauritius. The initiative is a collaboration between the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and the Mauritius Police and is part of the commemoration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July.

Themes selected this year: “In the fight against human trafficking, no child should be left behind.” According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, one in three children worldwide is a victim of human trafficking.

Permanent Secretary Human Rights Section Emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to combat human trafficking, recalling that children and women are the worst affected groups. The Government’s efforts to address this issue include: National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2022-2026, Collaborative developmentInternational Organization for Migration, Amendments to the Ordinance Anti-Human Trafficking Lawto strengthen the legal framework and ensure that a victim-centred approach prevails, prioritising victim support and non-prosecution, and Private Recruitment Agencies Act, It was issued on February 16, 2024, and aims to ensure ethical recruitment practices and protect workers’ rights in accordance with international standards.

The rights and safety of foreign workers were also discussed. The Permanent Secretary of the Human Rights Department said that in this sense, a memorandum of understanding with the countries of origin of foreign workers is being developed. “The commitment and progress Morris has demonstrated has been recognized by the 2023 U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, which has elevated Morris to Tier 2.” The critical role of law enforcement in combating human trafficking was also discussed.