Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling

The National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), which is affiliated to the Cabinet of Ministers, launched the Third National Strategy on Combating and Preventing Trafficking in Persons for the period (2022-2026). It is a starting point and the beginning of new action plan in which we build on what was achieved upon the completion of the previous National Strategy (2016-2021). the National Strategy has followed the international scientific approach in the field of combating trafficking in persons, which is the four pillars’ approach “4Ps” (Prevention, Prosecution, Protection, and Partnership), which makes the strategy an effective tool in the hands of the government to protect individuals and the community as a whole.

Under the amendments, tougher penalties shall be imposed on whoever commits, initiates, or mediates in the crime of smuggling migrants.

The overarching goal of the new NAP is to prevent and respond to human trafficking and migrant smuggling, which women and children are at heightened risk of. The plan outlines activities aimed at eradicating trafficking in persons.

The ratification of this protocol is intended to prevent and combat trafficking in persons and facilitate international cooperation against it. The Protocol also highlights the problems associated with trafficking in persons that often leads to inhuman, degrading, and dangerous exploitation of trafficked persons.

Tunisia passed Decree Law No. 653-2019 which establishes operating procedures and guidelines for the National Authority and four specialized commissions and their responsibility to monitor and evaluate, research, train and develop, and track victim cases regarding human trafficking.

The Ministerial Decree aims at identifying the modalities of coordination between the different authorities concerned with land and coast inspection/control in Algeria, namely the national cost guards’ authority, the national gendarmerie, the general directorate of national security and the general directorate of customs. This include implementing joint patrols, arresting and penalizing all types of offenders and law breakers (drug dealers, organized crimes, terrorists, illegal transportation activities, etc..).

The UAE and the Philippines signed a MoU on Cooperation in Combating Human Trafficking and outlines the two countries’ cooperation to adopt procedures to combat human trafficking, share best practices, exchange information, promote human rights, and provide assistance in the protection, rescue, repatriation, recovery, and rehabilitation of trafficking victims in accordance with domestic laws.

Decree No. 2-17-740 establishes the formation and operating procedures of the National Commission for the Coordination of Measures to Combat and Prevent Human Trafficking, an inter-ministerial commission established in 2017.

Law No. 1 defines human trafficking, outlines criminal proceedings and punishment for those violating the law, and includes provisions for the protection of victims.