Working Group validates first national action plan for combatting trafficking of persons [1]
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 - 00:25
A Technical Working Group for combating trafficking in persons and vulnerable migrants in Tonga met in a workshop on 12 July in Nuku’alofa.
Tonga Police in its capacity as Deputy Chair of the Technical Working Group joined Government and non-Government stakeholder and partner agencies in a workshop held at the Tonga Police College, to validate the first National Action Plan, Standard Operating Procedures and a Referral Mechanism.
The Director of Immigration and Chair of the group, Telesia Kaitapu acknowledged the strong and ongoing assistance of Tonga’s valued donor partners, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Head of IOM Tonga Office, Sione Fifita and the Asia Foundation in-country Coordinator, ‘Ana Kakau.
Acting CEO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Polotu Fakafanua Paunga, in her opening remarks said of the need for close collaboration of relevant stakeholders to maximise Tonga’s efforts in countering trafficking.
Participants came from 10 Government Ministries/Departments including Immigration, Police, Revenue & Customs, Attorney General’s Office, Internal Affairs, Trade & Economic Development, Justice, National Planning, Education & Training, Fisheries, as well as representatives from non-government organisations such as the National Centre for Women and Children, Women & Children Crisis Centre, Civil Society Forum of Tonga and Tapuaki mei Langi Consultancy.