Madagascar - The Government of Madagascar has formally presented its National Action Plan to fight trafficking in persons within and from Madagascar.

The event in the capital Antananarivo was presided over by Prime Minister Jean Ravelonarivo and was attended by senior officials from the President’s Office and the National Assembly and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Internal Security, Justice, Public Service, and Labor.

The Ambassadors of the United States, Switzerland, and delegates from the Embassies of the European Union, France, the United Kingdom, UN Heads of Agencies and representatives from the judiciary, civil society and the private sector also participated.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Ravelonarivo reiterated the government’s commitment “to do everything necessary to eradicate (trafficking).” He went on to call for “the participation of all stakeholders towards a multi-sectoral and coordinated response adapted to the Malagasy context.”

According to the US State Department, Malagasy citizens are trafficked both internally and internationally. Children, trafficked internally and primarily from rural areas, are subjected to domestic servitude, prostitution, forced begging, and forced labor in the mining, fishing, and agriculture sectors.

Women and men, who are trafficked both within Madagascar and internationally, face forced labor and sexual exploitation. Numerous victims returning from the sub-region and the Gulf countries have reported rape, psychological abuse, physical torture and violence, sexual harassment and assault, harsh working conditions, confinement to the home, confiscation of travel documents, and withholding of salaries.

The development of the five-year National Action Plan was funded by USAID and the IOM Development Fund (IDF).  The plan is part of a larger intervention aiming at improving national coordination on human trafficking; achieving greater awareness about human trafficking, strengthening protection for victims, with a focus on women and children; and supporting coordination between Madagascar, destination, and transit countries.

“Today’s attendance highlights how momentous tackling trafficking in persons has become in this country, and demonstrates the commitment to undertake coordinated actions to prevent it, enhance victims’ protection, and fight against traffickers’ impunity. We are proud to be by Madagascar’s side on this important day and look forward to supporting implementation of the Action Plan,” said Daniel Silva y Poveda, IOM Madagascar’s Head of Office.

For further information please contact

Daniel Silva y Poveda
IOM Madagascar
Tel: +261.32 56 54 954
Email: dsilva@iom.int