Luke Nacei
17 February, 2021, 11:45 pm
Permanent Secretary for Defence,National Security and Policing, Manasa Lesuma (left) and EU Ambassador Sujiro Seam during the launch of National Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan at GPH yesterday. Picture: RAMA
TRAFFICKING in persons, especially women and children, is a worldwide problem, regardless of social, political or economic circumstances that govern them, says Defence, National Security and Policing Ministry permanent secretary Manasa Lesuma.
He said human trafficking was a multifaceted, complex and dynamic social phenomenon which made it very difficult to ascertain with certainty its existence and prevalence.
“It is to this end that I wish to also acknowledge the role of the government of the United States of America in driving international responses to all forms of trafficking in persons through the publishing of its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report,” he said.
February 16, 2021 12:46 pm
Fiji launched it’s first-ever National Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy and revised National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking today.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, Manasa Lesuma, says the continuing impact of COVID-19 has exacerbated the threats and prevalence of Human Trafficking across the world and in Fiji too.
Lesuma says human trafficking is a worldwide issue and Fiji is not spared from this modern form of slavery.
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“Human trafficking is a multifaceted, complex and dynamic social phenomenon which makes it very difficult to ascertain with certainty its existence and prevalence.”
He says while the formulation of the Strategy and Actions Plan is the first step in addressing the issue, the main challenge is its implementation.
Luke Nacei
16 February, 2021, 4:50 pm
New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr (middle) with other guests during the launch of National Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy and Action Plan at GPH today - Tuesday, February 16, 2020. Picture: RAMA
Today marks an important occasion in the launch of the National Human Trafficking Strategy and the National Action Plan for Fiji.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission in Fiji Solomon Kantha said it was an important milestone for Fiji in not only recognising the scourge of human trafficking but in developing and endorsing a strategy and action plan to effectively deal with this horrendous crime.
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Jale Daucakacaka
Permanent Secretary for Defence and National Security Manasa Lesuma. Picture: RAMA/FILE
“It is crucial now to commence implementing strategies to enhance our capabilities and capacities in border management to address the issue of human trafficking.”
This was the statement of Permanent Secretary of Defence, Manasa Lesuma to participants of the “Empowering Fijian Civil Society in Countering Trafficking in Human Beings” training workshop at Holiday Inn in Suva.
“With the increase in migrants to our country carrying out employment within our workforce and investing in our economy, it is imperative that we must equip our labour and immigration officials to properly understand and identify possible cases of human trafficking within our labour force,” Mr Lesuma said.