FOUR YEARS AFTER RATIFICATION of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005, active members of the fight against human trafficking convened to review and recommend amendments to the Act in a series of workshops held July 21-22 and Oct 19-20 2009 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. WHI-FAAST and UNICEF played an active roll in organizing, funding and contributing to this important legislative action, chaired by the Hon Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children Affairs Dr. Soccoh Kabia and Permanent Secretary J. O. Wellington in collaboration with the National TIP Taskforce. These recommendations now await official approval by the Sierra Leone Government for adoption into the Act.

“No responsible government wants its country to be known for unacceptable activities within the international community,” J. O. Wellington said in his opening remarks. “Indeed trafficking in persons is a criminal act, one of the most degrading and serious social crimes committed against humanity, which must be punishable by authorities.”

The Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005 is the first piece of legislation enacted by the Sierra Leone Parliament to specifically “suppress trafficking in persons.” It details measures for combating human trafficking and how to prosecute trafficking offenses. Although holistic and detailed, provisions to the act were seen as necessary to conform with current trends in human trafficking and respond to the needs and concerns of vulnerable groups in society, particularly women and children. Hon Dr. Kabia highlighted the need to review the Act and bring it to harmony with the Adoption Act of 1989 and the Child Rights Act of 2007 in his keynote address.

“There is a need to make some amendments to create an Act that will really respond to the growing nature of trafficking,” Honorable Musa Tamba Sam of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights said.

Representatives from Government Ministries, Sierra Leone Parliament, the Judiciary, Sierra Leone Police Force, Immigration Office, United Nations Agencies and other NGO service providers, participated in the workshops.

Prior to 2005, virtually no awareness or understanding of human trafficking existed in Sierra Leone.

“When the law was enacted the first time, there was little sensitization on the issue of trafficking,” FAAST Technical Coordinator Janet Nickel said. “It was created out of a reaction to international pressure and there was not a lot of awareness within the country.”

Senior Magistrate Henry Sandy admits that even within the justice sectors, most were not aware [of human trafficking] even while the act was being passed. “There were rampant cases of trafficking, but no law and people did it with impunity,” Sandy said.

Director of Legal and Justice Sector of the Sierra Leone Police Force, M.B. Kamara, saw this review and amendment as the launching point for a new thrust of implementation. “Even from 2005 until 2009 we have been in the preparation stage for full implementation which has not been possible until now,” he said. “Only since 2007 have we really seen an increase in awareness, greatly in part thanks to FAAST.”

The culture of silence is over, Kamara said, pointing to an increase of reports. Yet prosecutions from these reports have been nearly non-existent.

“Legislation does nothing just sitting on the table,” he explained. “But now, because of FAAST, people realize there is an offence. Police officers now realize what it is and how we need to act on it.”

But while awareness is a warning, prosecution sets examples. Kamara admits that there is a long way to go, hopefully starting now with a renewed emphasis on the Act.

“The issue of TIP is gaining momentum,” according to FAAST Program Manager, Bernadette Udo. Momentum that FAAST is hopeful will lead to more implementation of the amended Act.

“FAAST is going to be the catalyst to see that amendments are enacted,” Bernadette said. “We have confidence, there is hope for a brighter future.”