The Gambia government has been urged to do more in combating people trafficking in the country. 

The US State Department latest Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report found that The Gambia has failed to meet the minimum standard in combating trafficking in person. 

The report ranked the Gambia in the Second Tier after assessing the country as not fully meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons. 

“Tier 2 consists of countries that are making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards but, failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking over the previous year, including increased investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of trafficking crimes, increased assistance to victims, and decreasing complicity in trafficking by government officials, or where the estimated number of victims is very significant or significantly increasing and the country is not taking proportional concrete actions,” the report said. 

“The TIP Report narrative contains prioritised recommendations for The Government of The Gambia to consider implementing over the coming year. 

“These recommendations constitute a suggested action plan that aims to provide government with guidance on key efforts necessary to better meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons. 

“The Gambia’s ranking is a testament to the hard work of all members of the anti-trafficking community. The Gambia and the United States will continue to find ways to collaborate in the fight to End Human Trafficking,” the report added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba