NIGER - NIGERIA REPORT OF THE 2021/14TH ANNUAL REVIEW MEETING OF THE ECOWAS REGIONAL NETWORK OF NATIONAL FOCAL INSTITUTIONS AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS PLUS (RNNNI-TIP+) The 2021/14th Annual Review Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Network of National Focal Institutions Against Trafficking in Persons Plus (RNNI-TIP+)



Final Report





Niamey, Niger 1-3 February 2022 




I.	INTRODUCTION 
The ECOWAS Commission in close collaboration with the ICMPD organised the 2021/14th Edition of the Annual Review Meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Network of National Focal Institutions against Trafficking in Persons Plus (RNNI-TIP+) from 1st to the 3rd of February, 2022 in Niamey, the Republic of Niger. The Strategic objective of the Meeting was to contribute to the attainment of Human Security in the ECOWAS region through the combat of Trafficking in Persons and protection of vulnerable persons. The Meeting had the following specific objectives:

•	To conduct on spot assessment of the level of implementation of the ECOWAS Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2018-2022).  
•	To provide an evidentiary basis for planning and programming by National Focal Points in fulfilment of their roles in combatting trafficking in persons. 
•	To provide the ECOWAS Commission with data and information for further tracking of actions and improvement in counter trafficking programming in Member States and to aid in the coordination and provision of technical assistance. 
•	To present the Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) Project and discuss the roles of the TIP Focal Institutions and Non State Actors during its implementation.
•	To strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Niger and Nigeria in the fight against Trafficking in Persons.

The following Member States were present at the Meeting: 
	Republic of Benin;
	Republic of Cape Verde;
	Republic of The Gambia;
	Republic of Ghana;
	Republic of Guinea;
	Republic of Guinea Bissau;
	Republic of Liberia;
	Republic of Niger;
	Federal Republic of Nigeria;
	Republic of Senegal;
	Republic of Sierra Leone; and
	Togolese Republic.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania participated as an Observer. The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Niger and the ECOWAS National Office in Niger participated. There were also representatives from the EU Delegation in Niger at the Opening Ceremony, GIZ, ISS-WA and WAN Civil Society Coordinators from ECOWAS Member States. 




OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony which was moderated by the ECOWAS Commission featured the following;  

Welcome Address by the Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission.     
A Welcome Address was delivered by Head of Human Security and Civil Society Division on behalf of the Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs. She welcomed and informed the participants of the ongoing Integrated Human Security In-country High Level Advocacy, Coordination and Capacity Building of Multi-Stakeholders in the implementation of various ECOWAS Protection Texts in the Member States, initiated by the Department of Social Affairs and Gender, which had already taken place in The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso in 2021. She said that the plan is to implement the activity in 10 (ten) Member States in the year 2022. According to her, the main purpose of the Integrated Mission is to promote a whole of Government and Society approach to ensure comprehensive protection and human security of people in the region, especially the most vulnerable. She thanked the EU and the German Government for supporting the OCWAR-T Project and acknowledged the collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission and the ICMPD in actions towards the elimination of trafficking in persons in the region.  

Goodwill Message from the EU Delegation in Niger
The EU Delegation in Niger was represented by the Head of Section, Politics, Media and Information. She noted that with the increased threat to human security in the region especially towards women and children, it is imperative to accelerate the development of the Regional Referral Mechanism (RRM) and the development of the Regional Crimes Against the Person Prevention Policy (RCAPPP). She also said that she looks forward to the deployment of the Demand Driven Facility (DDF) to the first batch of the six successful ECOWAS Member States to support in the fight against human trafficking. She thanked the participants and urged them to use the platform provided by the meeting to adapt the OCWAR-T Project to new challenges encountered in the area of human trafficking in the region. 

Goodwill Message from the ICMPD Head of Region 
The ICMPD Head of Region delivered her Goodwill Message virtually. She said that migration is about people and that ICMPD is committed to improving the benefits of migration for the development of the region. She stated that the Annual Review Meeting organised by the ECOWAS Commission in close collaboration with the ICMPD stands out as a model in the fight against human trafficking. She expressed her gratification with regards to the fruitful collaboration ICMPD enjoys with the ECOWAS Commission. In conclusion, she thanked the Government and people of the Republic of Niger for the warm welcome extended to the participants; and also thanked the EU, the Governments of Germany and the Netherlands for their support.

Remarks by the Coordinator, ECOWAS National Office in Niger
Remarks of the Coordinator, ECOWAS National Office in Niger.  In his Remarks, he welcomed the participants to Niger and urged them to use the opportunity of the meeting to proffer lasting solutions to the menace of human trafficking in the region. He reiterated the commitment of the Government and People of Niger Republic towards the eradication of the menace and promised that the Government of Niger will abide by any recommendation made at the end of this Annual Review Meeting.

Remarks by the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Niger
In her Remarks, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Niger, Her Excellency, said that the organisation of the meeting shows the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission, the Member States and Partners towards enhancing human security and promoting the protection of all citizens especially the most vulnerable persons in West Africa. She said, the focus on protection and human security has greater significance now, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She maintained that related vulnerabilities and victimization such as Violence Against Children (VAC), Child Marriage, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) etc. are all consequential in tackling the subject of TIP plus in West Africa; and therefore urged participants to use the opportunity of the meeting to review the implementation of key ECOWAS Instruments on combatting human trafficking and also for future planning. In conclusion, she emphasized that for the region to attain an acceptable level of human security, Member States must prioritize effective law enforcement, strong social services, women’s right, social protection and child protection at the minimum. 
Opening Address by Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Republic of Niger
The Ministry of Justice, Republic of Niger was represented by the Director General ANLTP, the TIP Focal Institution in Niger. He welcomed the participants to Niger and stated that the fight against trafficking in persons is a global one which requires the collaboration of various stakeholders. He praised the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission and the Partners in the fight against trafficking in persons. He opined that the meeting will provide the opportunity to assess the implementation of the ECOWAS Trafficking in Persons Plan of Action 2018-2022. He wished that the participants have a fruitful meeting. He thereafter declared the Meeting open.
Background and Overview of the Meeting Proceedings
In 2017, the Authority of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS Member States adopted the ECOWAS Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons (2018-2022). The Plan of Action outlines critical strategies in the implementation of actions against both domestic and transnational trafficking in persons. As with previous meetings, the 2021 Annual Review Meeting enabled Member States to report on achievements from previous year implementation and present 2022 priorities especially against the new reality of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
ECOWAS used the meeting to call on Member States to incorporate a new integrated approach to protection and human security. The new approach is informed by the ongoing Integrated Human Security In-country High Level Advocacy, Coordination and Capacity Building of Multi-Stakeholders in the implementation of various ECOWAS Protection Texts in the Member States by the Department of Social Affairs and Gender. The Meeting also afforded Member States the opportunity to reflect on the Component 3 of the Organized Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) Project being implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) under the guidance of the ECOWAS Commission.  The participants were briefed on the OCWAR-T Component 3 Demand Driven Facility (DDF) and five Member States present (Guinea, Capo Verde, Senegal, Niger and Sierra Leone) who have just received the DDF Technical Support shared their experiences.  
II.	TECHNICAL SESSION
The Technical Session chaired by the Representative of Ghana (current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government) was preceded by her Remarks. 

A.	ELECTION OF BUREAU
1.	The following bureau was elected:  
Chairman:  Republic of Ghana  
Rappatoirs: Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone

B.	ADOPTION OF AGENDA 
The agenda was adopted and is annexed to this Report, after which there was self introduction by the participants.
C.	Opening Remarks by Representative of the Republic of Ghana (current Chair of ECOWAS)
The Representative of the Republic of Ghana and Director, Human Trafficking Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in her remarks to the technical session called for collaboration among the Focal Points from the Member States. She stressed that it is impossible for a single Member State to effectively combat trafficking in persons.  She ended her remarks by wishing the participants fruitful deliberations. 

D.	REPORTING BY MEMBER STATES FOCAL POINTS
•	Member States recorded some progress towards the implementation of the 2021 Priorities despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following ECOWAS Member States reported on the Implementation of 2021 TIP Priorities and ECOWAS TIP 2018-2022 Plan of Action; and also presented their 2022 Priorities.
•	Republic of Benin;
•	Republic of Cape Verde;
•	Republic of The Gambia;
•	Republic of Ghana;
•	Republic of Guinea;
•	Republic of Guinea-Bissau;
•	Republic of Niger;
•	Federal Republic of Nigeria;
•	Republic of Liberia; 
•	Republic of Sierra Leone;
•	Republic of Senegal; and
•	Togolese Republic.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania also reported on the implementation of its 2021 Priorities and its planned 2022 Priorities.

III.	PRESENTATIONS
The following Presentations were made and followed by plenary discussions during the Technical Session:

1.	Update on ECOWAS Human Security and Civil Society Division (HSCSD) Programme. 
2.	Country Review of 2021 Implementation and Determination of 2022 Priorities.
3.	ECOWAS Plan of Action (PoA) against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Annual Synthesis Report (ASR) Template Questionnaire.
4.	Briefing on the OCWAR- T Project:
•	Baseline Assessment on TIP
•	Baseline Study on Regional Crime Against the Person Prevention Policy (RCAPPP)
5.	Current State of Regional Referral System:
•	ECOWAS Support Procedures and Standards for the Protection and Reintegration of Vulnerable Children on the Move and Young Migrants.
•	Proposed Guidelines for an enhanced ECOWAS Regional Referral Mechanism (RRM)
6.	Niger-Nigeria Project Cooperation on TIP.
7.	Demand Driven Facility (DDF) Actions under the OCWAR-T Project.
8.	The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fight against TIP Plus.

III.	RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTCOMES
Following deliberations, Member States Focal Points made the following and recommendations and outcomes: 

1.	Member States and the ECOWAS Commission agreed on the need for deeper investigation into the emerging trend of Cyber enabled and related TIP + activities in Member States in order to act regionally and timeously. 
2.	In furtherance of the above, ECOWAS should convene Investigative and Analytical Casework Sessions focused on the emerging TIP trends in the Region, including Cybercrime related TIP. Such sessions will include relevant ECOWAS entities, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security; GIABA, Member States and Partners. 
3.	Member States and the ECOWAS Commission agreed on the need for deployment of modern technologies; change of orientation strategies and sensitisation messaging especially when engaging with the youth population; employment of innovative and systemic approaches in the implementation of actions against human trafficking during the COVID-19 Pandemic amidst the new trends adopted by perpetrators of human trafficking.
4.	ECOWAS and Member States to implement a program on analysis of Member States Criminal Justice and Social Services Architecture for the Combat of TIP Plus.
5.	ECOWAS and Member States should investigate the impact of the current situation with child fostering (both formal and informal) in relation to TIP Plus. 
6.	Recommends that Member States should pay particular attention to the subject of child trafficking in both the Construction sector and the Sports industry.
7.	The subject of response in the case of missing persons was emphasized as requiring a change in approach, especially in the case of reports of missing children to ensure speedy and effective investigative action. 
8.	Submission of Report (duly filled TIP Questionnaire) by Member States to the ECOWAS Commission as part of their voluntary reporting on the implementation of the ECOWAS TIP Plan of Action 2018-2022.
9.	Member States acknowledged the collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission and ICMPD under the OCWAR-T Project and further urges the speedy implementation of the enhanced Regional Referral Mechanism (RRM) and the Regional Crime Against the Person Prevention (RCAPP) initiatives.

IV.	ADOPTION OF THE REPORT 
This Report was adopted. 

V.	CLOSING CEREMONY 
The Closing Ceremony featured Remarks by the Head, Human Security and Civil Society Division on behalf of the Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission; the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Niger; the Coordinator, ECOWAS National Office in Niger; ICMPD Head of Region; and representative of the Ministry of Justice, Niger.
	
In their various closing remarks, they emphasised the importance and urgency in the implementation of actions against human trafficking in the region bearing in mind the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic. Member States delegates were commended on their contribution at the meeting and the commitment to promoting actions against human trafficking in West Africa. The close collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission and the ICMPD was also highlighted as being important in advancing the work against human trafficking in the Region. Participants were urged to drive immediate implementation of the outcomes and recommendations of the meeting in their various Member States. The Meeting was declared closed by the representative of the Ministry of Justice, Niger.

Done at Niamey, this 3rd day of February, 2022

Chairperson