By Jane Salihu
The ECOWAS Parliament has launched a regional citizen engagement campaign in The Gambia and Senegal to tackle irregular migration, human trafficking and modern slavery across West Africa.
The week-long initiative, themed “One Journey, Many Risks. Ask First, Move Safely,” will run under the Sixth Legislature of the Parliament, with activities holding in Banjul from July 6 to 10 and in Dakar from July 13 to 17.
This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Office of the Chief Communication Officer, ECOWAS Parliament, which said the programme would bring lawmakers into direct engagement with young people, returnees, community leaders and civil society organisations affected by irregular migration.
The Parliament said irregular migration remained one of the most serious socio-economic and human security challenges in the sub-region, with many young people risking dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities.
It said unemployment, poverty, insecurity and limited access to decent livelihoods had continued to push thousands of youths onto unsafe land and sea migration routes, leaving them vulnerable to trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation and debt bondage.
The Gambia and Senegal, it added, remained among the ECOWAS member states significantly affected as countries of origin, transit and return for migrants.
The Parliament said the campaign would raise awareness among youths and vulnerable communities on the dangers of irregular migration, while giving lawmakers firsthand information on its causes and consequences.
It added that the initiative would strengthen dialogue between parliamentarians and citizens and generate recommendations to improve national and regional policies on migration prevention, victim protection and reintegration of returnees.
Activities in The Gambia will begin with a courtesy visit to the country’s Minister of Interior, followed by a stakeholder briefing involving the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the Gambian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, the International Organisation for Migration and the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons.
The programme will also include town hall meetings in Bakau, Brikama and Barra, where residents, returnees and survivors of irregular migration will share their experiences with lawmakers.
To reach young people through sports, the Parliament will organise a community football event tagged “Football for Awareness,” using the campaign slogan to reinforce the message of safe migration.
The Gambian leg will end with a debriefing session on July 10 to review observations and develop recommendations for future interventions.
In Senegal, the engagement will focus on public sensitisation and dialogue involving youth groups, students, community organisations, returnees and public institutions in Dakar and neighbouring communities.
Both phases will use open-air town hall meetings, interactive discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and radio, television and community media platforms to broaden participation against irregular migration and modern slavery.
The Parliament said the initiative reflected its commitment to promoting safe migration, protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening regional cooperation on the issue.
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