Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, will visit Guinea-Bissau from November 4 to 14, 2024. She aims to examine challenges in preventing trafficking and protecting victims’ rights, especially children. Mullally will meet with government and UN representatives, law enforcement, civil society, and survivors, culminating in a press conference on November 14. She will present her findings to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025.
Siobhán Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, is scheduled to conduct a visit to Guinea-Bissau from November 4 to November 14, 2024. During her visit, she will investigate critical challenges related to the prevention of trafficking and the protection of the rights of victims within the country. Mullally’s focus will include the risks and prevalence of human trafficking in the context of transitional governance and post-conflict peacebuilding efforts. Furthermore, she will assess the specific vulnerabilities of children in relation to forced begging and child marriage, as well as exploring the gender aspects of trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labor. This comprehensive evaluation aims to facilitate the identification of effective remedies to combat these issues. Ms. Mullally’s itinerary includes visits to the cities of Bissau, Bafata, Cambadju, and Gabú, where she is expected to conduct meetings with various stakeholders. These shall comprise representatives from the government, UN officials, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, human rights advocates, survivors of trafficking, and development partners. In conclusion, the Special Rapporteur will host a press conference at 10:00 AM local time on Thursday, November 14, at the Hotel Ceiba in Bissau. The event will be exclusively for journalist attendance. Following her visit, Mullally will present her findings in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025.
Human trafficking remains a pressing issue globally, affecting millions of individuals, particularly women and children. Guinea-Bissau faces significant challenges in combating this crime, primarily due to socio-economic instability and a history of conflict. The need to assess and enhance the existing prevention strategies and victim protection measures is critically important in such contexts, where vulnerabilities are heightened. The role of the Special Rapporteur is to shed light on these challenges and propose actionable recommendations.
In summary, Siobhán Mullally’s upcoming visit to Guinea-Bissau represents a significant step towards understanding and addressing the multifaceted issues related to human trafficking in the country. Through her discussions with various stakeholders and subsequent reporting to the UN Human Rights Council, it is anticipated that she will provide valuable insights and recommendations aimed at improving the protection of victims and the prevention of trafficking in persons.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
