COLOMBO – A district-level initiative to strengthen efforts against human trafficking and human smuggling was launched in Jaffna on Wednesday (12) with the establishment of an Anti-Human Trafficking Forum, officials said.
The forum was established during an awareness and consultation program held at the Jaffna District Secretariat auditorium, organized by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and chaired by Jaffna District Secretary Maruthalingam Piratheepan.
Attorney-at-Law Priyangani Hewarathna, Secretary of the Working Committee of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and Anusha Munasinghe, National Project Coordinator of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), participated in the program.
Addressing the gathering, Piratheepan said the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force was implementing measures against human trafficking and human smuggling across the country, with the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Defence serving as its National Secretary.
He said Jaffna had been identified at the national level as one of the districts requiring strengthened measures to prevent human trafficking, leading to the decision to establish a district-level mechanism to coordinate prevention and response efforts.
An awareness program for Divisional Secretaries, the Assistant District Secretary, Assistant Divisional Secretaries and Administrative Grama Niladharis attached to Divisional Secretariats was held on Tuesday (11), ahead of the consultation to establish the district forum.
Representatives from foreign employment, human resource development, skills development and women’s development sectors, as well as officials involved in anti-trafficking activities, participated in the discussions.
The District Secretary said an effective district-level mechanism was urgently needed, particularly in view of national statistics indicating the continuing threat posed by human trafficking and human smuggling.
He said the forum would not only focus on preventing trafficking and smuggling but would also have an important role in supporting victims through psychological assistance, social protection and livelihood support.
Piratheepan stressed the importance of strengthening public awareness and preventive measures to ensure that people are protected from trafficking networks and other forms of exploitation.
He also called for coordinated action among government agencies and other stakeholders, saying the fight against human trafficking and human smuggling could succeed only through a collective effort.
Officials participating in the forum were given an opportunity to present their views and recommendations on strengthening prevention, victim protection and coordination at the district level.
The meeting was attended by the Additional District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, Assistant District Secretary, Assistant Divisional Secretaries, Administrative Grama Niladharis and development officers representing foreign employment, human resource development, skills development, women’s development, child rights promotion and preschool child development sectors.
-ENCL
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