West Africa Fights Back: Organised Crime Takes Aim At Human Trafficking

 

 

Photo: Members Of TOC.

 

 By Ousman A. Marong

 

The Transnational Organised Crime (TOC), West Africa in collaboration with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights(ACHPR), together with the CSO groups working on human rights, UNODC, IOM, OHCHR, Interpol, Academics and researchers specializing in TOC, human rights and related fields with funding from the European Union (EU), is poised to take step in combatting Human Trafficking, armed conflicts fueled by illicit trafficking, extrajudicial killings, force labour and other forms of exploration that constitute grave violation of human dignity.

 

Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) poses a significant threat to human rights across Africa, undermining governance, security and development. However, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) is playing a critical role in promoting and protecting human rights in the face of these threats.

The meeting was held on Friday, 13th March 2025 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo. The convergence brought together human rights lawyers, CSOs, migration experts and people from different sectors to devise strategies towards combatting TOC causes.

Dr Feyi Ogunade, Regional Coordinator, Transnational Organised Crime, TOC, said the converging was meant to examine how the African Commission can combat and address Transnational Organised Crime.

“It is always my belief that TOC causes can be addressed. We did not do much on Transnational Organised Crime. We primarily focus on human rights issues, which are the promotion and protection of civil, political and social rights. There are other obligations that the African Commission can address, and that's Transnational Organised Crimes. When you look at the interface at the conference on human rights and TOC, you see so many violations of human rights and TOCs. A typical example is human trafficking, smuggling in person from the time people are being smuggled till they enter the boats from Libya to the Mediterranean Sea. Thousand and thousands of would-be migrants or smugglers have lost their lives. More people have died in the Shara desert,” said Dr Feyi Ogunade, regional coordinator of Transnational Organised Crime.

 

In her part, Enya Braun, EU Programme Manager on Governance Cooperation (PMGC), said Transnational Organised Crimes know no borders, and its impact reaches societies threatening governance, security and the fundamental rights of people across the world.

 

She continued: “The European Union (EU) has now recognised the urgency of addressing Transnational Organised Crime not only as a security challenge but also as a way of human rights concerns. TOC undermine the rule of law, enables corruption and weakens state institutions, leaving communities vulnerable and deprived of basic protection.”

Background Of Transnational Organised Crime (TOC).

Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) in Africa manifests in various forms, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and cybercrime. These criminal activities traverse national borders, necessitating a coordinated and multifaceted response. The ACHPR, established by the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, is mandated to promote and protect human rights, interpret the African Charter and ensure its implementation. Strengthening the ACHPR's capacity to address TOC is crucial to safeguarding human rights and promoting justice.