By The Eritrean Mission To AU,
An Eritrean Delegation led by Ambassador Araya Desta, Permanent Representative to the AU and UN-ECA took part in the Second Regional Conference on the AU-HoA Initiative on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants, held on 13 and 14 September 2015 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
The Conference which was attended by countries from Eastern and Northern Africa, as well as relevant regional and international organizations dis-cussed the implementation of the decisions reached in the First Conference held in Khartoum in October 2014.
In a presentation made at the Conference, the Eritrean Delegation elucidated that the Government and People of Eritrea have been exerting efforts to ad-dress the root causes of migration, both pull and push factors. Primary among them, ending the illegal occupation of Eritrean territories and the unjust sanctions imposed on the country, and reversing the negative effects of this situation on national development. In addition, Eritrea has been engaging European states for them to reconsider their preferential asylum policies towards Eritreans.
The Delegation also highlighted the activities under-taken by the Government of Eritrea in the areas of setting up the necessary coordination framework, as well in the 4Ps, i.e. prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership to combat human trafficking and smuggling.
The Conference called up on all concerned bodies to redouble their efforts in fighting the scourges, and for partner States and Organizations to support the creation of conducive environment for the promotion of sustainable development in countries of origin.
