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| 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.
