FromFemi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has called on State Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to adopt a holistic, human-centered approach to migration.
This approach should prioritize the protection of smuggled migrants, particularly vulnerable women and children, rather than criminalizing victims of smuggling.
The call was made at the fourth edition of the Constructive Dialogue on the Smuggling of Migrants, held at the Vienna International Center.
The Dialogue produced key recommendations, including¹:
– *Protective Measures*: Ensuring the safety and fair access to justice for migrants, particularly women and children.
– Expanding legal migration opportunities to reduce reliance on irregular channels.
Researching to identify global smuggling hotspots and understand the underlying factors and drivers of irregular migration.
ANEEJ Executive Director Rev. David Ugolor emphasized that migration today is driven by desperation, fueled by war, poverty, persecution, and climate change.
He noted that migrants are often arrested, detained, and prosecuted as offenders rather than being recognized as victims of exploitation, entitled to protection and access to justice.
To address these challenges, Rev. Ugolor called on State Parties to strengthen their human rights and anti-smuggling frameworks.
This includes ensuring that smuggled migrants have access to legal aid and clear guidance for law enforcement authorities to prevent the criminalization of victims.
“A human-centered, rights-based approach is not optional — it is essential if we are to protect the dignity and safety of those most at risk in migration,” Rev. Ugolor concluded.
The ANEEJ’s call to action emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to migration that prioritizes the protection and dignity of all migrants.
