Experts and representatives from Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Member States and international organizations gathered in Lusaka, Zambia, for a three-day (2 -4 August 2023) Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Trafficking in Persons (TiP) and Labour Migration Statistics. This significant event was organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) as part of the Joint Labor Migration Program (JLMP), in collaboration with partners from International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labour Organization (ILO), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), African Police Cooperation Organization (Afripol), International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of participating countries in providing timely, reliable, and high-quality data on Trafficking in Persons and Labour Migration. Through this data-driven approach, policymakers, planners, and decision-makers will be better informed to address critical challenges affecting labour migration governance effectively.

National statistics officers, migration experts, Interpol and other relevant stakeholders discussed among others, mechanisms for data sharing between different actors, data collection tools and methodologies, practices and experiences and developed a roadmap for the development of a report on TiP in relation to labour migration in Africa.

Ms. Odette Bolly, the JLMP Coordinator at the AUC, highlighted the importance of collective efforts in combating Trafficking in Persons, and emphasized that collaboration among nations and international organizations is vital to effectively tackle this issue and promote safer, dignified migration.

“Collection of accurate, reliable, verifiable, and timely migration statistics will ensure that Member States will be able to address certain policy gaps on irregular migration, trafficking, labour migration, diaspora engagement, and remittances at all levels. As a matter of fact, streamlining migration data collection through administrative records, border control, population censuses, labor force and household surveys is key towards achieving this,” Ms. Odette added.

Unsuspecting people, intending to migrate for labour opportunities, unknowingly fall prey to trafficking networks. The multifaceted nature of this issue makes it even more challenging, as many victims may not be aware that they are being trafficked.

“Zambia has recorded an increase in human trafficking of 79 victims in 2022 from 42 victims in 2021 (2023 Trafficking Persons Report, 2023),” Mr. Joseph Chikali Tembo, the Assistant Director of the Economic and Financial Statistics of Zambian Statistics Agency said, while emphasizing the need for improved coordination among institutions handling migration statistics.

In addition, experts emphasized the importance of harmonizing the current fragmented administrative data, transforming it into a practical utility for seamless reference and usability by policy makers.

“Mobility patterns are constantly changing, which means that policies to address them also need to evolve. Addressing mobility dimensions is central to saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk, vulnerability and need. It is critical for the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” Ms. Keisha Livemore, the IOM Chief of Mission in Zambia said.

“National policies, laws and regulations as well as regional agreements are central to orderly and safe migration. For such policies and regulations to be well designed, they need to be based on a sound factual basis – that is, on good statistical information,” Mr. Johan Hallenborg, the ambassador of Sweden to Zambia, said. Sweden, being one of the key JLMP development partners, actively supports the implementation of these well-designed measures.

The African Union Commission has been at the forefront of developing key policy instruments to govern migration in Africa, and this workshop is another testament for the JLMP’s commitment to contribute to the realization of the aims of Agenda 2063 and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of eradicating forced labor, modern slavery, and human trafficking.

The skills, experiences, tools, and contacts shared during the training will be disseminated by the participants to their national counterparts, regional and local authorities, and other experts in international development work. They will act as conduits, spreading the knowledge acquired and ensuring its wider application and impact.

About the JLMP

The Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP) is a collaborative initiative between the African Union Commission (AUC), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The JLMP's strategy emphasizes intra-African labor migration and aligns with the First 2023 Ten Year Plan of the AU's Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is currently implementing projects to enhanced rights-based governance for labor migration and mobility in Africa, ensuring gender-responsive regulations and protections for all migrant workers; increase availability and utilization of labour migration data & statistics by MS and RECs for evidence-based policy-making; and support MS to establish systems that promote safe, secure, and equal working conditions for migrant workers in formal and informal sectors with access to social protection and skill recognition.

For further information please contact: 

Ms. Odette Bolly, JLMP Coordinator, African Union Commission, Email: OdetteB@africa-union.org

Mr. Brian Okengo, JLMP Statistics Officer, African Union Commission, Email: okengob@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Innocent Vuga | Communication and Knowledge Management Officer -JLMP | African Union Commission | E-mail: vugai@african-union.org

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