The ECOWAS Parliament has begun a regional citizen engagement campaign in The Gambia aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and modern slavery across West Africa.
The exercise, being held under the Parliament’s Sixth Legislature, opened Monday in Banjul and will run through July 10 before moving to Dakar, Senegal, from July 13 to 17.
The engagement brings Members of the ECOWAS Parliament into direct contact with young people, returnees, community leaders, civil society organizations and citizens to discuss the growing risks associated with irregular migration.
According to the ECOWAS Parliament, irregular migration remains one of the region’s most pressing socio-economic and human security challenges.
It says unemployment, poverty, insecurity and limited economic opportunities continue to drive many young West Africans to undertake dangerous journeys through unsafe land and sea routes, leaving them vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labor, sexual exploitation, debt bondage and other forms of modern slavery.
The Parliament said the engagement seeks to sensitize young people and vulnerable communities about these dangers while providing lawmakers with first-hand insight into the factors driving irregular migration and its consequences.
It is also expected to generate practical recommendations to strengthen national and regional efforts on prevention, protection and the reintegration of returnees.
The Gambian leg of the engagement begins with a courtesy visit to the country’s Minister of Interior and a stakeholder briefing involving the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the Gambian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons.
Community town hall meetings will follow in Bakau, Brikama and Barra, featuring awareness sessions, testimonies from returnees and survivors, and open dialogue between lawmakers and citizens.
A community football event under the slogan “One Journey, Many Risks. Ask First, Move Safely” will also be held in Bakau to reinforce the campaign’s message through sport.
The regional outreach will conclude in Dakar, where lawmakers will engage youth groups, students, community organizations, returnees and public institutions through public dialogues and media outreach to promote safe migration and strengthen the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery.