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DR Congo

IOM, ACP-EU Migration Action Help Tackle Trafficking in Persons, Migrant Smuggling in DR Congo

Kinshasa – Beginning on Monday (16/04) and at the request of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), IOM and ACP-EU Migration Action hosted a five-day training on countering trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling for Congolese Government officials.

Experiencing numerous cases of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, the DRC is a country of origin, transit and, to a lesser extent, a destination for trafficked and smuggler migrants.

Concluding today (20/04), this training of trainers brought together senior officials from different key ministerial entities involved in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling. Participants will be provided with the necessary information and knowledge on important aspects of human trafficking and smuggling of migrant in order to conduct trainings for other relevant Government actors. They will be better equipped to prevent, protect and assist victims of human trafficking and smuggling.

Attending the opening ceremony on behalf the Minister of the Interior and Security, the Secretary-General emphasized that: “the necessity to think about the possibility of establishing quickly a national committee to fight against trafficking and smuggling of migrants.”

This training demonstrated a commitment from Government authorities to move forward to raise awareness of the Congolese populations on dangers of trafficking and smuggling and to protect victims and punish the perpetrators.

ACP-EU Migration Action and IOM will continue to support the government of DRC in order to help them find tools and appropriate solutions to face and deal with this scourge.

The ACP-EU is a development cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

For more information, please contact Emery Kianga at IOM Kinshasa, Tel: +243 81 686 76 13, Email: ekianga@iom.int