Guinea-Bissau steps up fight against human trafficking

The government of Guinea-Bissau is committed to mobilizing all necessary resources to effectively combat human trafficking in the country, Justice and Human Rights Minister Maria do Céu Silva Monteiro declared on Thursday in Bissau.

Speaking at the official launch of a new training manual dedicated to tackling the issue, Minister Monteiro stated, “Human trafficking is a growing phenomenon in Guinea-Bissau and represents an unacceptable violation of human dignity.”

Ana Cristina Andrade, representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), also voiced concern over the devastating impact of trafficking, especially on the most vulnerable groups, including children and youth.

For several months now, Guinea-Bissau has seen a surge in human trafficking cases, particularly involving children, driven by well-organized criminal networks.