In a conference held in December 2024 in Kampala, the African Union’s Continental Operational Centre (COC) made headway in combating trafficking in persons (TiP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM). The workshop validated the continental guidelines for sharing information and intelligence hence, providing a structured framework for cooperation among Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and law enforcement agencies.
The challenges sabotaging the fight against TiP and SOM include inadequate data collection, limited resources for enforcement and reluctance of some actors to share information. COC also developed a 5year strategy to mitigate the challenges mentioned. The guidelines are considered an actionable framework for unbundling the networks that perpetuate these inhumane crimes. The document also includes mechanisms to harmonize laws across the member countries and encourage secure data-sharing platforms.
Follow the link below for more insight on the validated guidelines: