Japan provides further support in counter trafficking and strengthening border management

Based on the two previous projects funded by Government of Japan, namely, ‘’Building Sustainable Peace and Promoting Human Security of Cross-border Communities and Mobile Populations through Integrated Border Security and Management and Community-based Counter Trafficking Initiative (2018)’’ and ’’Counter Trafficking and Addressing Irregular Migration through Strengthening Border and Migration and Border Management, Sensitization on TIP and Building Capacity of Law enforcement and Border Officials in Lesotho (2019),’’ the Government of Japan has become a leading donor in Lesotho to support the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho (GoL) in strengthening border and migration management and counter trafficking / smuggling. Despite the tangible results achieved through these two projects, Lesotho continues to face diverse and complex challenges in the protection of Victims of Trafficking (VoT) as well as in tackling the issues of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

The new project aims to achieve three results, namely, to rehabilitate the new Crisis Shelter for female Victims of Trafficking (VoT). In addition, IOM will also purchase a mobile house with several rooms which will be used as rooms for psychosocial counselling, skills training for the beneficiaries and administrative office for Beautiful Dream Society (BDS) which operates the crisis shelter for female VoTs under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA); to enhance the capacity of identification and investigation of the trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, through the establishment of an immigration inspection unit and strengthened immigration intelligence. This will be made possible through developing risk analysis / profiles, undertake threat analysis, conducting study tour to IOM’s African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC) in Moshi, Tanzania, as well as intensive training to the immigration official towards establishing immigration inspection unit led by immigration intelligence and its effective operations; and to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable returnees and VoTs, through restoring their self-esteem, income generating opportunities and enhance their living conditions in the district of origin. Through study tour to IOM mission with Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme in South Africa, and conduct national level workshop to discuss the coordination, process of screening, registration and provide humanitarian support to vulnerable returnees, the project intends to start the national level discussions on how best Lesotho can support vulnerable returnees known as ‘’deportees’'.

‘’Based on the partnership built through the two previous projects, IOM will implement the project with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) as a key counterpart, but also cooperate with other relevant Ministries and institutes, Cross Border Crime Prevention Forum between South Africa and Lesotho, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) active in counter trafficking activities, District Authorities as well as Basotho diaspora members, church leaders and village leaders. In order to fight against human trafficking, we need to collaborate with everybody who shares with us the common goal. Our shared goal is to realize Lesotho free from this inhuman crime – human trafficking’’ said Ms. Eriko Nishimura, Head of Office of IOM Lesotho.