The Trafficking in Persons – Legal Assistance Program (TIP-LAP) assisted partner governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to introduce or strengthen antitrafficking legislation, better equipping them to combat trafficking in persons and meet their commitments under international law.

Working together with key stakeholders in the region, TIP-LAP provided expert technical assistance to enhance the national legal framework for the prevention of trafficking, the protection of victims, and the prosecution of traffickers in Mozambique, Rwanda, Togo, and Mauritius. 

Photo by CIFOR, CC BY-NC 2.0, cropped.

• Program staff led Togo’s first training on the country’s newly reformed trafficking-in-persons provisions. 76% of criminal justice actors participating in the trainings stated that at least part of the subject matter was new to them.
• Police and prosecutors participating in antitrafficking training in Mauritius widely acknowledged that this was the first training that directly applied to their day-to-day activities, as it provided clear insight into gathering and presenting evidence and dealing with vulnerable victims in court.
• The program helped ensure that the first stand-alone antitrafficking law in Rwanda and a draft of the comprehensive National Action Plan to combat trafficking in Mozambique met international legal standards.

• Strengthen the effectiveness of national antitrafficking legal frameworks in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to decrease trafficking in persons and increase support to trafficking survivors.

• Needs assessment: In consultation with partner governments and key stakeholders, staff provided expert technical assistance to review antitrafficking legal frameworks and to develop detailed legislative reform and capacity strengthening strategies.
• Legislative assistance: The program worked with members of government and civil society to draft and hold consultations on antitrafficking laws and national action plans to combat trafficking in persons.
• Capacity development: Staff delivered targeted support to criminal justice actors for improved implementation of existing antitrafficking laws, resulting in increased skills and coordination among police and prosecutors to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes.
• Outreach and awareness-raising:  Working alongside local partners, the program supported a countrywide advocacy campaign on the newly reformed Togolese antitrafficking law. TIP-LAP also supported trainings for social workers on protection and prevention and for journalists on effective reporting of trafficking in persons.

The two-year program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP).

Contact Tara Rucker, Technical Advisor, at trucker@irex.org.