Douala - On 16 July 2024, Douala international airport hosted a significant ceremony, marking act 2 of the unveiling of posters to raise awareness and combat human trafficking and the migrant smuggling. Chaired by the Minister of Social Affairs, this crucial initiative was attended by the Minister of Transport and local administrative authorities, similar to the event that took place in Yaoundé on 18 March 2024.

Co-organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs, as part of its full mandate to assist vulnerable populations, and the United Nations Migration Agency (International Organisation for Migration - IOM), the ceremony featured speeches and strong calls from officials for concerted action. ‘The posters we are unveiling (...) are not just an awareness-raising campaign. They embody our collective determination to say NO to the exploitation and trafficking of human beings', as the IOM Chief of Mission emphasised in his speech.

This initiative is part of the Cameroon government's ongoing efforts to combat these scourges that affect so many lives. The new posters, strategically placed in various parts of the airport, are designed to raise awareness among travellers and airport staff of the signs of human trafficking and to encourage people to report these acts. The posters provide clear and precise contact details, including the toll-free numbers for the Ministry of Social Affairs (1503) and the Cameroon Human Rights Commission (1523).

The importance of this synergy of efforts to combat these scourges was explicitly underlined by the Minister for Social Affairs, Ms Pauline Irène NGUENE, in her speech on the occasion, in the following terms: “We are fully committed to the fight against human trafficking and smuggling. This is a collective effort that calls on all players in society...”.

The local administrative authorities, by their presence, expressed their support for this initiative and their commitment to working together with international and civil society organisations to eradicate human trafficking specifically in the region.

This ceremony marks an important step in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Cameroon. The new awareness-raising posters will serve as a constant reminder of the government's and IOM's commitment to protecting human rights and guaranteeing the safety of all.

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For further information, please contact:

• Pascale ESSAMA, IOM Cameroon, Tel: 657103074, E-mail: pessama@iom.int