Irregular Migration: Checkmating Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Through Media

Held in prelude to the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, 2022, the awareness workshop sought to involve journalists as major players in the relentless fight against human trafficking and human smuggling. Organisers said each of the phenomena generates about 30 billion US dollars annually worldwide, enriching the criminal gangs involved.  

Major Problem
“It is a serious problem because those who embark on irregular migration often end up as victims of human trafficking. The causes mainly have to do with poverty, social and economic disparities, the quest for better livelihoods abroad, conflicts or disasters, the search for gain…,” explained Elodie Ndeme Bodolo, Head of Communication for IOM Cameroon.  “Since 2016, IOM and partners have assisted about 6,000 Cameroonians to return home from abroad,” Bodolo noted.  

Drivers Of Trafficking, Smuggling
They are also driven by rising demand for cheap labour, distance and rapid means of transportation, the digital revolution, low empowerment of women and desperation for survival. According to workshop organisers, human trafficking and smuggling can be mitigated by facilitating regular migration, and curbing forced and irregular migration.

Projects To Curb Trafficking
IOM Cameroon projects handle aspects like peace-building, humanitarian emergency response, migration protection, health promotion, health and border management, resettlement, displacement tracking and the Canada Visa Application Centre, CANVAC. All in a bid to address the problem of human trafficking and smuggling. 
Especially between Cameroon and the Central African Republic, CAR, and those affected by the conflict in the North West and South West Regions. Since 2007, IOM Cameroon has been working hard to assure orderly migration, uphold human dignity and the wellbeing of migrants. 

Efforts By Stakeholders
“Since 2010, IOM has been assisting government to tackle human trafficking and smuggling through a number of projects. In 2013, we put in place a referencing manual for human trafficking victims and trained stakeholders,” Tatiana Lobe, Head of Projects, IOM Cameroon, disclosed. Thus, the 2009 project to evaluate the situation of human trafficking in Cameroon. A hotline, 1503, was created to report cases of human trafficking. In 2019, a project between Cameroon and CAR was initiated to fight cross-border human trafficking. Part of which included the training of gendarmes and magistrates. 

Anglophone Conflict  
Concerning the conflict in the North West and South West Regions, an 18-month project started in January 2022. It covers 8 council areas in the Littoral and West Regions hosting displaced people. Youth will be empowered and sensitised on harmonious living together. “Since the conflict broke out, IOM and partners have been carrying out Multisectoral Needs Assessment to enable UN agencies to come up with projects to assist IDPs,” Tatiana said. 

Complex Phenomenon
“Stakeholders - the government, IOM and the civil society - have been playing their part in tackling human trafficking and smuggling. Human trafficking is complex, thus the need for continuous training of ...