Papua New Guinea - IOM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Papua New Guinea Customs Service designed to strengthen collaboration in the fight against human trafficking and people smuggling.

At the signing in the capital Port Moresby yesterday, Papua New Guinea Customs Commissioner Ray Paul said that the agreement would lead to greater respect for migrants as people, and will promote human rights.

"This MoU will encourage social and economic development through orderly migration, and ensure that proper processes are followed in dealing with the wellbeing of migrants,” he said.

IOM’s Chief of Mission in Papua New Guinea, George Gigauri, stressed that the commitment to information-sharing would improve migration management in the country, which is seeing something of an economic boom related to mining and other extractive industries.

"Customs officers at the border are in the vanguard. They screen everyone and everything that comes into Papua New Guinea. Without (the participation of) customs, any effort in the area of migration management, border protection, counter trafficking and disaster management will not be able to succeed,” he said.

IOM is currently rolling out a nationwide anti-trafficking campaign to raise awareness of trafficking and smuggling in Papua New Guinea.

For more information please contact

George Gigauri
IOM Papua New Guinea
Email: ggigauri@iom.int