The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu together with Heads of the Family Support Unit (FSU), the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), and the International Policing Unit( INTERPOL) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), on Tuesday March 7, 2023, held talks with a team from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at Police Headquarters in Freetown. The theme of the meeting was centered on curbing the menace of Human Trafficking in Sierra Leone and the sub region .
Ms. Annalisa Pauciullo is the Regional Coordinator and Head of the Anti-Trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants Unit of the UNODC, an office which is located in Dakar, Senegal. She was part of the meeting and she made a presentation. During her presentation, she stated that she would be establishing an office in Sierra Leone to address the issues of Human Trafficking and smuggling of migrants from Sierra Leone.
She discloses that Human Trafficking is a menace and it is a crime that is committed in different ways and for different purposes. She added that such purposes could be for either sexual exploitation or for financial or material benefits. She emphasizes the dangers that are compounded in such crimes, which she said could either be death or physical injuries to the victim.
While the meeting progresses, Ms. Annalisa Pauciullo further revealed that her intention is to establish a long term partnership with Sierra Leone to address issues that fall within the mandate of her office. She said, Trafficking of persons, Cybercrime, Corruption and drug issues form part of the mandates of her office.
While concluding, she made it clear that she would be purely dealing with the criminal justice system where the police appears to be very key. She further said that she would start her project assessment in Kambia, Kono, Kailahun, Kenema and Pujehun districts to assess the situation of Human Trafficking and Migrants smuggling in those communities.
“We are trying to form a working group to develop modules and a training manual on the Trafficking of human beings. We will therefore start with the law enforcement officers and the Judiciary to receive appropriate training so as to enable them identify potential victims of Trafficking. The essence of the training is to ensure enforcement standards on Trafficking are maintained and to remain sustainable even after my departure” , she concluded.
The IGP, on behalf of the SLP thanked the UNODC and expressed his gratitude on the presentation of Ms. Pauciullo. The IGP maintained that everything presented was for the good of the SLP and the entire nation.
While he gave his appraisal on the presentation, he also acknowledged that even though the SLP is pre- knowledged about issues of Trafficking, such knowledge needs to be continually reinforced for a better work output. He therefore pledged that building the capacity of his personnel would always be his utmost priority.
He welcomed the idea of the training and he opined that the best officers are those who secure conviction in court. “Human Trafficking and Migrants smuggling are gradually becoming topical issues. Therefore, on behalf of my colleagues, we welcome this project and we promise to reciprocate our support for a fruitful outcome”, he concluded.
SLP MEDIA TEAM
