Regulation C/REG.28/12/07 Relating to the Extension of The ECOWAS Plan of Action on the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons (2008-2011)

Jurisdiction
African Regional Bodies · Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Date
15 December 2007
Language
English
Type
Legislation
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Economic Community of West African States

Regulation C/REG.28/12/07 Relating to the Extension of The ECOWAS Plan of Action on the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons (2008-2011)

The Council of Ministers,MINDFUL of Articles 10, 11 and 12 of the ECOWAS Treaty as amended, establishing the Council of Ministers and defining its composition and its functions;MINDFUL of the Protocol A/P1/12/99 relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Peacekeeping and Security which relates to the maintenance of security and control of trans-border crime within the Community;RECALLING the Declaration A/DCL.2/12/01 on the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons which was issued at the twenty-fifth Summit of the Authority in Dakar, December 2001, unequivocally condemning the offence of trafficking in persons and asserting the unacceptability of trade in human beings;ALSO RECALLING the Initial Plan of Action on the fight against trafficking adopted for the sub region for the period 2002 - 2003 containing measures that addresss the deplorable phenomenon of trafficking in persons;DEEPLY CONCERNED over the continued rise in the incidence of trafficking in persons within West African Sub-region and from our Member States to other parts of the World;MINDFUL of the global fight against trafficking in persons and the United Nations Conventions on Transnational Organized Crime and the Supplementary Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, and wishing to ensure that the West African sub-region remains a part of this global initiative;RECOGNISING the ECOWAS Initial Plan of Action adopted in 2002 but extended up till 2007, as an effective tool for sub-regional cooperation and for the enhancement of Member States’ individual and collective capacities to fight the offence of trafficking in human beings and establish protective measures against that offence;DESIRING to extend the life of the aforesaid plan of Action on the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons from 2008-2011;ON THE RECOMMENDATION of the Mediation and Security Council held in Ouagadougou on 13th November, 2007ENACTS

Article 1

i.The ECOWAS Plan of Action on the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons initially adopted in 2002 is hereby extended for continued implementation from 2008 - 2011.
ii.The Plan of Action referred to in paragraph ‘i’ of this Article is attached to this Regulation.

Article 2

Member States shall give priority to enacting laws criminalizing trafficking in human beings in line with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.

Article 3

i.Member States yet to establish National Task Forces on Trafficking in Persons should urgently through the appropriate legal means, establish National Task Forces on Trafficking in Persons that will be responsible for the development of national action plans against Trafficking in Persons.
ii.Member States that have established National Task Force should put in place, appropriate measures to ensure that the National Task Force is strengthened in order to respond to emerging and evolving issues of Trafficking in Persons.

Article 4

Member States shall ensure the protection of victims of trafficking in persons through the development of a framework for the protection and rehabilitation of victims/witnesses of human trafficking.

Article 5

The ECOWAS Commission shall intensify its efforts in sensitizing Member States on related implementation measures, in resource mebilization and also ensure that it plays effective supervisory role within the framework of its task as Coordinator.

Article 6

This Regulation shall be published by the ECOWAS Commission in the Official Journal of the Community within thirty (30) days of its signature by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers. It shall also be published in the official Gazette of each Member State within the same time frame.
Done at Ouagadougou, this 15th day of December 2007H.E. Mrs. Minata Samate CessoumaChairperson, for Council
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