Cameroon stands together with Mission 89 against trafficking of young athletes

Cameroon stands together with Mission 89 against trafficking of young athletes

 #Not in Our game

On the occasion of the Africa Cup of Nations, Mission 89’s Executive Director, Lerina Bright and Dr. May Ikeora, Senior Advisor (Sports Trafficking & Migration), met with Sports & Anti-trafficking Stakeholders in Cameroon.

This visit was centered on promoting the “NOT IN OUR GAME” campaign, which is an anti-human trafficking awareness raising initiative with the aim to educate the youth on the understanding of human trafficking and irregular migration in sports, in order to prevent them from becoming victims as they pursue their sports career.

As a member of the Interpol Human Trafficking Expert Group (Interpol – HTEG), Executive Director met with Mme. Chantal Apendeki Cinene, Head of INTERPOL Regional Bureau Central, as well as well as Commissaire Magloire Enguene, who both highlighted the role of law enforcement in tackling human trafficking and irregular migration. They agreed to combine law enforcement efforts with the sole objective of ultimately eradicating child trafficking/smuggling.

Mrs. Lerina also met with Hon. Monouna Foutsou, Minister of Youth and Civic Education, urged African youth, and specifically, Cameroonians, to use the potentials available in their countries to achieve their goals. She emphasized that we should say no to illegal immigration, no to human trafficking in general, and of Cameroonian youth in particular!

Mission 89 welcomed the recommendation from Hon. Monouna Foutsou on empowering the youth ambassadors in the rural areas and different regions with capacity building training to deliver the “not in our game” anti-trafficking message to youth in vulnerable communities, as well as sharing messages with parents and guardians.

According to the UNODC 2006 anti-trafficking act, human trafficking is a massive violation of fundamental human rights and it has been well documented that no country is fully immune from it. As a result, the team from Mission 89 welcomed the assuring words of Dr. Decius Chipande from African Union Sports Council in encouraging the development and implementation of the effective safeguarding policies in sports to make sure that every sport is safe, inclusive and enjoyable by for young people.

Col. Kalkaba Malboum, Cameroon Olympic & Sports Committee, expressed his emotion regarding young Africans who lose their lives while trying to cross the desert or Mediterranean and said: “It is not acceptable the trafficking of persons. My organization does not accept it and no other organization should accept it”.

In a meeting with Samuel Eto’o Fils, the FECAFOOT President, he shared his experience as a young footballer leaving his family to travel from Cameroon to France and the importance of letting youth in Cameroon and in Africa in general know that, Europe is not the ivory tower they believe it to be. Mr. Eto’o Fils also pledged his support in raising awareness to safeguard young people who want to explore a football career. A cooperation agreement between the organizations was explored and this is expected to be finalized very soon.

During the 10-day visit to Yaoundé, Cameroon, Lerina Bright & Dr. May Ikeora took the opportunity to meet with the leadership of a few football federations participating in the AFCON, including the Senegalese Football Federation Secretary General Victor Seng at their team headquarters, which was followed by brief meeting President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amanju Pinnick, both pledging to take collaborative action within their national sports systems respectively.

Moreover, this visit provided an opportunity to meet with other like-minded organizations operating in Cameroon, including Richard Ombono, Director of Programmes at Child Helpline. Child Helpline coordinate information, viewpoints, knowledge and data from child helpline members, partners and external sources. These exceptional resources such as emergency telephone lines are used to help and support child protection systems globally.

Youth sensitization and education can play a significant role to play in combating the practice of child exploitation. The next step will be to organize debates, roundtables, campaigns and youth focus group at schools and within communities. Mission 89 will support such events on a national and community level, in collaboration with other stakeholders, and all linked to the NOT IN OUR GAME initiative.

The issue of trafficking of young athletes remains a complicated and contentious issue, which requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Let us join hands and together say, no to irregular immigration and no to human trafficking! Not in our game, Not in our game, #NOTINOURGAME!!!