National Human Rights Institutions Call for Stronger Regional Action Against Human Trafficking

The call follows a regional workshop held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought together NHRIs from the Southern, Eastern, and Northern migration corridors to exchange experiences, identify emerging protection challenges, and strengthen cross-border collaboration. The workshop was jointly organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Africa Migration Policy Centre, the GIZ Better Migration Management (BMM) Programme, and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC). 

As the international community marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the participating NHRIs called for renewed political commitment to protecting those most at risk of exploitation and ensuring that survivors have access to justice, protection, and support without discrimination. 

Human trafficking continues to affect thousands of people across Africa, with traffickers exploiting conflict, poverty, unemployment, displacement, and limited access to regular migration pathways. Migrants, refugees, women, children, and young people remain particularly vulnerable to trafficking for forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced criminality, and other forms of abuse. Throughout the workshop, participants emphasised that trafficking cannot be addressed by one country alone. Criminal networks operate across borders, making regional cooperation essential for prevention, protection, accountability, and access to justice. 

The advisory note issued by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, National Human Rights Commission of Mozambique, South African Human Rights Commission, and Human Rights Commission of Zambia, reaffirms the NHRI's commitment to strengthening collaboration in promoting and protecting the human rights of migrants along Africa's migration corridors. The note highlights the importance of coordinated action to identify trafficking risks, improve referral and protection mechanisms for victims, strengthen oversight of detention and border management practices, and ensure that anti-trafficking responses remain firmly rooted in human rights. Participants also underscored the importance of working closely with governments, civil society organisations, regional bodies, and international partners to address the drivers of trafficking while expanding safe and regular migration pathways. 

This advisory note serves as a reminder that protecting people from trafficking requires sustained cooperation across borders and institutions. By working together, National Human Rights Institutions can play a critical role in preventing exploitation, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that the dignity and rights of every migrant are protected.