The American Bar Association yesterday conducted a training programme for police, judges and prosecutors about trafficking in persons.

During the 18th and 19th century, Slave Trade was progressively abolished. Many people, particularly those sold as slaves thought the dark days of slavery were gone. Far from it! People have devised other forms to continue with what the world had put an end some 200 years back. Trafficking in persons, also known as "human trafficking" is a current form of modern-day slavery. Traffickers often prey on individuals who are poor, frequently unemployed or underemployed, and who may lack access to social safety nets, predominantly women and children in certain countries. Victims are often lured with false promises of good jobs and better lives, and then forced to work under brutal and inhuman conditions.

This is why yesterday, at the United States Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroonian and American experts discussed on how to develop a cohesive and multifaceted approach to combating trafficking in persons. Organised for the first time by the American Bar Association (ABA), the seminar was opened by the United States Ambassador to Cameroon, Janet Garvey and the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice in charge of Penitentiary Administration, Emmanuel Ngafesson, in the presence of other members of government and the diplomatic corps. Emmanuel Ngafesson noted that human trafficking is something that exists in Cameroon. That is why the government is taking several measures to halt the phenomenon. Amongst such measures is the establishment of an inter-agency working group and the passing of specific legislation on child trafficking. Stating that the government alone cannot combat trafficking in persons, the Secretary of State said that is why the government has welcomed support from the United States of America through the America Bar Association.

Ambassador Janet Garvey said there are no easy solutions to combating trafficking, but its magnitude requires quick action. Although Cameroon is taking giant steps to combat trafficking in persons, the ambassador noted that much still has to be done for there is still no law prohibiting the trafficking of adults and the draft national plan for combating trafficking has not moved forward. She however lauded the efforts of NGOs which are involved in combating trafficking in persons and underscored that the US will continue to support Cameroon as both countries are fighting for a common cause.

Given that the phenomenon is carried out in hiding, it is difficult to come out with exact statistics on the number of people who are being tricked and sold. However, statistics indicate that regionally 1.2 million children have been tricked and sold. As the government of Cameroon strives for total abolition of human trafficking, ABA will continue to work with the government to develop and implement a programme, and apply a specific legal framework to fight against trafficking in persons.