IPNEWS: The United States Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Mark Toner, on Thursday, August 29, 2024, paid a courtesy visit to Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper Kruah.
The newly accredited ambassador of the United States to Liberia paid a courtesy visit to Labor Minister today at 2:00 PM. at the EJS Ministerial Complex, where the Ministry is situated.
The meeting deepened the strong partnership between Liberia and the United States, with a focus on strengthening Anti Human Trafficking and Child Labor and Staff Capacity development.
During the meeting, the Minister of Labor outlined his vision to combat Human Trafficking, Child Labor and have institutionalized the approaches to prevent, protect, prosecute anyone caught in such illegal activities, and developed staffers human resources capacity.
Minister Kruah asserted that the past administration did not do well in the area of prosecution. ” we did not do so well during the last administration and last reporting period. We did not prosecute successfully all cases, though, losing some, due sometimes to unwillingness of victims to testify and many other reasons which led to our degrading to TIER TWO WATCH LIST for which we are not please and doing all we can to move up the ladder. To this end, we are now working assiduously to prosecute three cases on the docket of the August term of court; two males and one female victim that were trafficked are now in our safe home.
I am pleased to announce that we have successfully prosecuted a Trafficking in Person case of a Sierra Leonean man who had trafficked and sold his own daughter here in Liberia to acquire money to process his US Diversity Visa program. He is now serving prison term, and final arrangements have been concluded for her repatriation to her country through their embassy here, in keeping with conversational protocols. ”
Mr. Kruah also recognizes the partnership of the International Organization on Migration (IOM) renovation of two safe homes and successfully conducted a review of the TIP National Action Plan (NAP) ; developed the SOP’s and have also just concluded a major high level stakeholders’ engagement to revise US States Department’s 2024 TIP report on Liberia to discuss required efforts to address its recommendations, which includes increasing efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict all traffickers; increasing protection services for victims, including long term care; allocating financial and in kind resources to support Anti Trafficking efforts; implementing the 2019-2024 NAP training of officials, including laws enforcement officers and labor inspections and public awareness.
The Minister, in appreciation thanked the US government for their continuous support of programs and policies of Liberia, and reiterates calls for financial and logistical support both directly and indirectly through development partners to combat Anti-Human Trafficking, Child Labor, Staff capacity development and other relevant programs.
He highlighted the cut in the previous budget for prosecution from US$ 250, 000.00 to US$ 33, 000.00, which is a major impediment to investigate and prosecute unlawful individuals.
The U.S. Ambassador thanked Mr. Kruah for his vision of the Ministry and appreciated him for his farsightedness in working very hard to upholding international labor standards and protecting Human Rights and committed to helping Liberia get back on the right path to regain its position.
He added that Mr. Kruah is taking good steps in getting Liberia on the right trajectory, and respect for workers’ rights is fundamental rights of all.
“I am pleased to hear that you are taking good steps and making progress in the regards of Anti Human Trafficking. We hope the economy is growing and investment is growing. you have to do that in coordination to fight Anti Human Trafficking”.
