GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY, LIBERIA-President George Weah has set a new target of elevating Liberia to the top of the Anti-Human Trafficking Global Index, by next year.
President Weah said through the efforts of all Liberians, the Government and partners, it is possible to take the country from tier one to the top.
He stressed strong political will, allocation of resources and adequate support are the bedrock to ensuring human trafficking is combatted and fully eradicated in Liberia.
The Liberian Leader said:” To sustain the fight against human trafficking, strong security and anti-trafficking laws and intelligence must be put in place jointly by Government and partners.”
President Weah made the comment in a statement issued on Sunday, July 31, 2022, in commemoration of the International Day Against Human Trafficking, in Gbarnga, Bong County.
According to him, community based all-inclusive approach in waging a robust campaign is needed in order to win the war against human trafficking and its perpetrators.
President Weah lauded the efforts of the Labor Ministry, local and international partners and reiterated calls for continuous financial, technical and material support to fully eliminate human trafficking.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy near Monrovia, Joel Maybury, said the crime of human trafficking has extended into cyber space.
Ambassador Maybury said he has observed that the internet and digital platforms offer traffickers numerous tools to recruit, exploit and control victims, while organizing their transport and accommodation.
According to him, those traffickers are also engaged in advertising victims and reaching out to potential clients, by communicating among perpetrators.
The US Envoy stressed that technology allows traffickers to operate more quickly internationally, across multiple jurisdictions, while evading detection without constraints.
He made the comment when he served as Keynote Speaker on “World Day Against Human Trafficking in Persons in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Delivering special remark, Labor Minister Cllr. Charles Gibson said:” The internet has accounted for over ninety percent of human traffic king cases.”
According to witnesses, of the seven cases so far prosecuted by Government were connected .through phone calls and the internet.
