Combating Human Trafficking in Guéckédou: IOM Guinea's Contribution to the Fight Against the Practice

Guéckédou is a prefecture in the south of Guinea, characterized by high human mobility. It is situated in the Parrot's Beak area and shares its borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone. These communities have historically been established across the three edges. The populations of this region are highly mobile, moving for various reasons such as cross-border or regional trade, gold mining in gold-bearing areas of Guinea, or social activities.

Whether internal or external, migration can sometimes put individuals in vulnerable situations, exposing them to abusive practices and violations of their human dignity.

Young people, both girls and boys, residing in Guéckédou in Guinea's Forest Region regularly venture to neighbour regions in search of resources, particularly gold.

The Siguiri prefecture in Upper Guinea, where artisanal gold mining occurs, is one of the preferred destinations for Guéckédou residents. However, this journey is not without consequences, as explained by the prefectural authorities responsible for accompanying and integrating victims of human trafficking. 

"They deceive our sisters from here to send them to Siguiri under the pretext that they will find work there. Once there, they sometimes fall into prostitution networks and become victims of sexual exploitation," explains Isaac LÉLAMOU, the Prefectural Director of Women's Promotion, Childhood and Vulnerable Persons, before adding, "In addition to these cases of trafficking in Siguiri, we also observe in Guéckédou prefecture practices similar to trafficking, such as economic deprivation inflicted by husbands on their wives. These women are forced to abandon their activities and become dependent again."

The Office for the Protection of Gender, Childhood and Morals (OPROGEM) is one of the national police departments directly involved in combating trafficking. It is also a member of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (CNLTPPA).

"We are made aware of gender-based violence cases through complaints or denunciations. We are responsible for the repressive aspect. Sexual exploitation is the most common form of trafficking in the prefecture. We also fight all other practices similar to human trafficking with the support of technical and financial partners," explains Mohamed CONDÉ, the Principal Commissioner of OPROGEM in Guéckédou.

IOM's Contribution to Improving the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Until 2020, the efforts of the authorities of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (CNLTPPA) in the N'Zérékoré region (where Guéckédou Prefecture is located) faced several constraints. Indeed, the police officers and prefectural services involved in this fight needed capacity building, both in legal terms and victim care, improving their computer equipment and setting up a digital database of cases.

Since 2021, the International Organization for Migration has been involved in providing support to the CNLTPPA for greater effectiveness in combating human trafficking. As part of this, IOM, in collaboration with the National CNLTPPA Office, has equipped agents from some state structures, members of the CNLTPPA and specialized in combating human trafficking, with funds from the Multi-Partner Migration Trust Fund Joint Project, implemented in the Parrot's Beak region. These include OPROGEM, the Prefectural Directorate for Promoting Women, Childhood and Vulnerable Persons, and the Special Brigade for the Protection of Vulnerable Persons (BSPPV).

The MMPF project has also supported the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts through sub-regional meetings that brought together Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The goal is to improve regional governance and cooperation between participating states in the fight against trafficking in the region, including prevention, protection of trafficking victims, and prosecution of perpetrators.

"The training and equipment provided by the Project have enabled our services to understand the issue of human trafficking and to better distinguish between gender-based violence and human trafficking. In addition, it has strengthened our capacity to intervene in the fight against this practice. We also work more closely with institutions and NGOs involved in combating this scourge," says Mohamed CONDÉ, Principal Commissioner of OPROGEM in Guéckédou.

Since the beginning of the Project, these various CNLTPPA structures have benefited from capacity building on the identification and referral of potential victims, the collection and reporting of data on human trafficking, and assistance in the reintegration of trafficking victims. Moreover, they have also been equipped with computer equipment such as computers, printers, and internet kits, allowing them to carry out their missions more efficiently.

Today, identified victims of human trafficking in Guéckédou prefecture are registered and referred to the Prefectural Directorate for the Promotion of Women, Childhood and Vulnerable Persons for psychological and mental health care. The work is coordinated between the Prefectural Directorate for the Promotion of Women, Childhood and Vulnerable Persons, OPROGEM, BSPPV, and other structures and NGOs involved in combating human trafficking.