SIERRA LEONE: CenHTRO, UNODC Hand Over TIP Manual to Sierra Leone Law Enforcement
The Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its partners on Friday, July 5, 2024, completed the official handing over of a new training manual on human trafficking for Sierra Leone to law enforcement, at the UNDP office in Freetown.
The manual was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The outline for this document was crafted during an interdisciplinary workshop held in Makeni, Sierra Leone in October 2023, with input from Sierra Leonean law enforcement officers, criminal justice practitioners, and social workers.
Information from various national and international resources, including CenHTRO, Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS), International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), UNODC, and World Hope International (WHI) was integrated into the manual. References to the National Referral Mechanism for the protection of trafficking victims in Sierra Leone were also included. In February 2024, a follow-up workshop in Makeni allowed Sierra Leonean investigators, prosecutors, and judges to review the draft manual and provide recommendations tailored to the local context. The final revisions were made after a training session for judges based on the draft manual.
The Trafficking in Person (TIP) manual which was developed in collaboration with national and international experts and criminal justice practitioners in Sierra Leone, provides comprehensive guidelines for investigating, adjudicating, and prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking, with specific emphasis on the trafficking of children.
The manual serves as a practical tool for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges, and will enhance their knowledge and skills in handling complex cases related to human trafficking.
UNODC expressed gratitude for the fruitful processes of jointly developing the manual and thanked all stakeholders for their support
The meeting included key stakeholders, like the Sierra Leone Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force Secretariat. It featured a keynote speech from Chief Justice of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone Nicholas Browne-Marke. Lynnea Shane represented the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone.
By Stephen V. Lansana
12/07/2024