Mauritius strengthens national capacity to combat trafficking in persons

A two-day Capacity-Building workshop focusing on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mauritius and Seychelles, opened this morning in Port Louis.

The workshop forms part of the Enhancing the 4ps Approach to Counter-Trafficking in Mauritius project and the proposed Three-Year national TIP Capacity Development Programme, which is under the custodianship of the Prime Minister’s Office.

In her opening remarks, the IOM Chief of Mission for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms Alia Hirji, underscored the importance of translating the national legal framework into effective action through stronger institutional capacity, clearly defined responsibilities and improved coordination among stakeholders. According to her, an effective response to human trafficking must move beyond simply recognising the problem to actively identifying potential victims, reporting concerns, making referrals, and ensuring they receive protection and assistance

Ms Alia Hirji noted that the workshop draws on findings from a Training Needs Assessment conducted under the national capacity development programme. The assessment revealed that 41 per cent of respondents had never heard of the National Referral and Reporting Mechanism before completing the questionnaire, highlighting the need to strengthen awareness of the procedures and responsibilities essential to an effective national response, she pointed out.

Moreover, Ms Hirji reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to supporting Mauritius in combating trafficking in persons through capacity development and enhanced coordination among relevant stakeholders. The workshop, she recalled, is a pilot Training of Trainers initiative which will equip nominated participants with the knowledge and skills to conduct further training within their respective institutions.

She encouraged participants to engage actively in the sessions, share practical experiences and apply the knowledge acquired to strengthen inter-institutional collaboration, ensuring that potential victims are identified and referred to appropriate protection and assistance services.

22 October 2026

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Topics: Human Rights