As part of the Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa Phase II project, the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP) today commenced a three-day validation workshop on the National Trafficking in Persons Plus (TIP+) Strategy for The Gambia, scheduled for 20–22 October 2026.
The workshop brings together members of the national task force and key stakeholders from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners to validate the strategy, which aims to strengthen national efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.
The opening session featured statements from representatives of key partners, highlighting the importance of collaboration, national ownership, and sustained commitment to addressing trafficking in persons.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Reuben Lewis, Programme Specialist at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), expressed appreciation to NAATIP’s Executive Director, Mrs. Isatou Dabo, for her continued support and leadership throughout the development of the document. He also commended the consultant for the quality of work invested in the strategy.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU), Ms. Elena Perego, representative of the EU delegation to The Gambia, thanked all participants for their commitment and reaffirmed the EU’s continued support for the implementation of the TIP+ Strategy. She emphasized that trafficking in persons affects everyone and that all stakeholders have a role to play in addressing it. She further reaffirmed the EU’s position as a strong partner to NAATIP and underscored that trafficking in persons remains a serious form of transnational organized crime requiring sustained collaboration among governments, international organizations, and communities.
In her keynote statement, NAATIP Executive Director, Mrs. Isatou Dabo, recognized the valuable contributions of the national task force and expressed appreciation to NAATIP’s partners, particularly the European Union, ECOWAS, and ICMPD, for their continued support and partnership in developing the strategy. She described the document as an important milestone in The Gambia’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons and related offences while highlighting its significance as the country’s first TIP+ Strategy.
The Executive Director encouraged members of the task force to actively participate in the validation process by providing constructive feedback, recommendations, and technical input. She emphasized that the strategy is not solely a NAATIP document but a collective national framework developed through the contributions and collaboration of stakeholders from different MDAs and partner institutions.
Following her keynote address, Mrs. Isatou Dabo officially declared the three-day validation workshop open, calling on all participants to engage actively in the discussions and contribute meaningfully to strengthening the strategy for the benefit of The Gambia.
The technical session featured a presentation on the overview of the evidence base by the consultant, Mr. Masanneh Ceesay, followed by discussions and stakeholder feedback. Participants were divided into four working groups to critically review the strategy, identify key issues that were missing or overstated, highlight gaps, assess areas requiring further clarification, and propose prioritized recommendations to strengthen the document.
The three-day workshop is expected to strengthen stakeholder ownership of the strategy and ensure that the final document reflects national priorities, evidence-based approaches, and coordinated action to prevent trafficking in persons, protect victims and survivors, and strengthen the investigation and prosecution of offenders. The recommendations from the four working groups will contribute to refining the strategy and ensuring that its priorities are practical, relevant, and responsive to the trafficking in persons challenges facing The Gambia.
NAATIP remains committed to working with its national and international partners to strengthen coordination, promote effective responses, and advance collective efforts to combat trafficking in persons in The Gambia.
Together, we can strengthen our response to trafficking in persons and protect the rights and dignity of all.
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