By By: Contributing Writer;
Monrovia, Liberia – As part of effort towards enhancing support for survivors of human trafficking, 19 young Liberian women have received intensive mental health and psychosocial counseling in Monrovia. The initiative, funded by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), was carried out through a joint effort between the Government of Liberia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Over six days, the survivors participated in trauma-informed counseling sessions facilitated by a United Nations mental health expert, working alongside IOM and Liberia’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Secretariat. The sessions aimed to help victims overcome emotional and psychological trauma, rebuild confidence, and foster resilience as they reintegrate into society.
The program stems from a $35,000 ECOWAS grant awarded to Liberia in November 2024 to strengthen support systems for trafficking victims and boost anti-trafficking measures nationwide. IOM is spearheading the implementation in partnership with the Ministry of Labor’s TIP Secretariat.
At the project’s launch, Deputy Minister of Labor Hon. Steven S. Kolubah emphasized the government’s firm commitment to eradicating trafficking. “Supporting survivors is at the heart of our national response. We will continue working with partners to protect victims and ensure justice is served,” he stated.
IOM’s Liberia Country Program Coordinator, Serge Désiré Lenaud, underscored the importance of emotional healing in a victim’s journey to recovery. “These counseling sessions are not just about therapy—they are a foundation for restoring dignity, trust, and hope,” he said, thanking ECOWAS and the Liberian government for their collaboration over the years.
One of the survivors, identified as Alice Kollie (name changed for privacy), shared heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the group. “More than 300 of us were lured with false promises of jobs and education. We suffered, but today we’re home and healing. We’re grateful for everyone who helped us, especially for the mental health support we’ve received.”
The initiative is part of a broader ECOWAS regional strategy to assist trafficking survivors and tackle root causes such as conflict, climate change, and economic instability. It aligns with the ECOWAS Regional Policy on the Protection and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Persons, which aims to enhance the capacity of member states to provide comprehensive care and protection.
This effort marks a renewed push for coordinated, victim-centered responses to human trafficking across West Africa.
