Survivors of human trafficking to receive economic empowerment

More than 40 human trafficked survivors will soon receive education and economic empowerment to facilitate their restoration process.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has, therefore, been signed between the International Justice Mission (IJM) and United Way Ghana to create effective community-based solutions to end human trafficking in the country.

It is also to support the survivors whilst equipping them to fight against the menace.

According to a statement co-signed by the Director of IJM, West Africa, Madam Anita Budu and Executive Director, United Way Ghana, Mr Felix Kissiedu-Addi that was forwarded to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Cape Coast, the one-year project would begin from the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region.

It indicated that the community-based initiative dubbed: “The Anti-Child Trafficking Project” and focused on supporting IJM-led “Ghana Survivors Network (GSN) will commence with an advocacy programme to combat child trafficking in underserved communities in Ghana.

Additionally, it will empower and equip about 20 survivors of human trafficking as leaders to join other leaders to serve as advocates at the local, regional, and national levels to protect vulnerable people.

The statement also highlighted that the initiative is also intended to galvanize partnerships across sectors and build public and political will to support, fund, and scale strategies across the communities in Ghana to detect, halt, and prevent child trafficking and strengthen the justice system.

GSN forms part of the Global Survivor Network, an international group of survivors leading a movement to use their voices to encourage leaders to end all forms of violence and protect their communities from them.

It appreciated the efforts of United Way Ghana, adding that the support will positively impact the lives of the survivors.

The implementation of the project is a collaborative effort by the IJM Ghana, United Way Ghana, the Awutu-Senya District Assembly and the Department of Social Welfare (DSW).

So far, there are three chapters of survivor groups in the country with the Senya Bereku survivors’ chapter being the latest.

The two existing chapters are ‘Hope in Freedom’ Chapter at Anyamam in the Ada West District and ‘My Story Counts’ Chapter in Ehi and Ho, Volta Region.

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