Colombo—The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently collaborated with “The Fabulous Getaway (TFG)” - a reputed Tourism service provider, to raise awareness among tourism service providers on the risks of human trafficking, identification and referral of victims of trafficking and preventing and reporting the crime. This collaboration is aimed at promoting Safe and honourable tourism while mitigating any risks of human trafficking. Under the said partnership with TFG, 500 tour operators, tour guides, hotel staff and chauffeurs are expected to be sensitized. The training programme covers a wide array of topics including the indicators of trafficking specific to the tourism industry, legal framework and means of reporting cases to the responsible authorities.

According to the United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report 2022, women and children, particularly in the tourism sector, can be trafficked for a wide array of exploitative purposes, including sexual exploitation/forced prostitution. Due to the clandestine nature of human trafficking, combatting this crime requires a coordinated response from a wide array of stakeholders. As such, the tourism sector plays a crucial if not indispensable role. Having more stakeholders trained in preventing trafficking in persons allows for the protection and safety of victims and improves the quality of the destination, allowing it to continue being a safe and reliable option for tourists/visitors. It is imperative that officials and personnel in the tourism, travel and entertainment industry are trained to take up a proactive role in the prevention of the scourge by sensitizing its customers, monitoring and reporting violations.

This counter trafficking initiative also focuses on improving identification of potential victims. The series of training programmes highlights the commitment of the tourism sector to support the fight against human trafficking. The practical knowledge acquired during these trainings will enable the identification and reporting of cases, facilitate the dismantling of criminal networks, save lives, and improve migration for the benefit of all.

IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization and United Nation’s migration arm with extensive experience and a long history of work in countering human trafficking and all forms of exploitation. The counter trafficking interventions of IOM in the tourism sector are implemented by IOM under a project entitled “Strengthening Government and CSO Capacity to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Create Greater Impact” (IMPACT), with funding support from the United States Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP). The project also aims to strengthen national and local/community level capacities and scale up community driven responses to effectively combat and respond to TIP and contribute to the effective implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP 2021-2025) to Monitor and Combat human trafficking.

For more information, please contact the counter trafficking hotline number +94 766 588 688 or write to IOM Sri Lanka at iomcolombo@iom.int

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For more information, please contact:

Minoli P. Don, Head – Protection Unit (PXU) at IOM Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Tel:(0094 777 409 409), Email: mdon@iom.int