The Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire signed, Wednesday in Abidjan, a memorandum of understanding in the field of combating and preventing human trafficking.
This bilateral agreement, signed on the Moroccan side by Hicham Mellati, Director of Criminal Affairs, Pardons and Crime Surveillance, coordinator of the National Commission for the Coordination of Measures to Combat and Prevent Human Trafficking, and on the Moroccan side Ivorian by Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister of National Cohesion, Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty, Executive Secretary of the National Committee for the Fight against Human Trafficking People of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, constitutes an important initiative to strengthen bilateral cooperation relations in matters of justice and contribute to the joint efforts led by the two countries in the field of the fight against transnational organized crime.
Through the signing of this memorandum of understanding, the two parties hope to unify their joint efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, particularly women and children, by encouraging awareness and awareness of the dangers of this crime. , particularly among migrant populations, in addition to protection and support for victims of human trafficking and their reintegration into their original environment.
They also aim to establish an efficient and flexible partnership in this area through the facilitation of the spontaneous exchange of information between the two national commissions in order to improve coordination between the different stakeholders to fight more effectively against active criminal networks. in this matter.
The signing of this document took place in the presence of the Moroccan Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Abdelmalek Kettani and representatives of the International Organization for Migration.
Speaking on this occasion, Mellati stressed that the “question of combating and preventing human trafficking has always aroused particular interest from our two countries, due to the seriousness of this crime which affects ‘human being in their dignity and violates universally recognized human rights’.
“This interest first resulted in a ratification of the main international conventions dealing with this subject, accompanied by a strengthening of the legislative framework through the adoption of laws specific to the fight against trafficking in human beings since 2016, while setting up dedicated institutional structures in order to promote collective reflection and coordination of the efforts of all institutional actors involved in the prevention and repression of this crime, the protection and assistance of victims, as well as the promotion of partnerships and cooperation international in this field,” he added.
He made it known that the fight against trafficking in human beings, particularly women and children in the context of migration, can only be carried out efficiently and effectively if the countries of origin, transit and destination adopt a concerted and coordinated approach based on reciprocal cooperation.
At the same time, a working meeting was organized with representatives of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, in order to share Moroccan and Ivorian experiences and exchange points of view. on the approach to be adopted to implement this memorandum of understanding.
In this regard, it was agreed to prepare an action plan for the years 2025-2026 including a number of activities aimed at building capacities and exchanging expertise and experiences, particularly with regard to temporary and emergency accommodation for victims and the development of an administrative database for victims of human trafficking.
