Bosaso, Somalia –TASS is making significant strides in combating human trafficking and empowering victims of trafficking (VoTs) in Somalia through a project titled “Providing quality, survivor-centred protection services to 50 victims of trafficking in Somalia’s Coastal City of Bosaso, Puntland State of Somalia”, generously supported by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (UNVTF) of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project’s overarching goal is to assist and protect vulnerable victims of human trafficking in Bosaso, focusing on their health, social integration and preventing re-trafficking. Recognizing that immediate support is not enough, this initiative builds upon previous efforts by introducing individualized skill development tailored to survivors’ specific needs and interests, fostering long-term recovery and self-sufficiency.
Somalia, particularly the coastal city of Bosaso, serves as a significant source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. Migrants, often driven by hopes of reaching labor markets in Gulf countries, transit through Bosaso, making them highly vulnerable to exploitation by trafficking networks. Women and children are frequently subjected to forced labor and sexual exploitation, with global child victim detections rising significantly. While support systems often cater primarily to women, male victims frequently lack adequate services, highlighting a critical gap the project aims to address. The project specifically targets sexual exploitation, forced labor, and forced begging as primary forms of exploitation.
TASS’s approach in combating this is multipronged, covering prevention, identification, and response. Services include individualized case management and personalized support including safe interim accommodation, food, clothing and medical care in TASS safehouses; psychosocial and legal support; family tracing and reunification; vocational/life skills training and economic empowerment; and community outreach. Project implementation involves collaboration with local police, civil society organizations (CSOs), the Puntland Ministry of Women and Family Affairs (MOWDAFA), and various protection working groups to ensure comprehensive support.
During the first quarter (April-June 2025) of implementation, the project successfully identified and screened 30 victims of human trafficking comprising of 20 girls and 10 women. These beneficiaries included 11 Ethiopian migrants, 1 Yemeni, and 18 Somalis, primarily from southern Somalia, who were deceived by smugglers. All 30 received immediate safe accommodation and essential assistance in TASS safehouses. Sixteen beneficiaries received medical assistance covering fees, medication and transportation to health facilities in Bosaso. Ten Somali girls who requested family reunification support, were successfully reunified with their families ensuring their safe return home. The remaining 20 women and girls opted to stay in Bosaso to pursue economic opportunities in the city. These 20 beneficiaries were enrolled in vocational training in Henna/Makeup and Tailoring.
Building Self-Reliance
The life skills training is designed to foster economic empowerment and self-reliance among the targeted beneficiaries. The project aims to enable the beneficiaries to earn an independent income, be decision makers in their lives and chart a path forward by equipping them with vocational skills like Henna/Makeup and Tailoring along with essential business knowledge in financial management, record-keeping, and entrepreneurship. This will enhance the agency and autonomy of the individuals enabling them resist re-trafficking. TASS plans to link these trained beneficiaries with local banking institutions and businesses to access loans or in-kind capital, helping them start their own small-scale enterprises. This will address their immediate needs and significantly reduces their vulnerability to re-trafficking by providing a sustainable livelihood.
Voices from Our Work
“At TASS, we believe in the inherent strength and resilience of every survivor. This life skills training supported by UNVTF and UNODC, goes beyond teaching a trade to restore hope, dignity and autonomy amongst our beneficiaries. We are giving back joy that was robed from these people by the unscrupulous people within our society. Witnessing these women and girls embrace new skills and envision independent futures is truly inspiring and reaffirms our commitment to a holistic, survivor-centred approach in the fight against human trafficking.” – Asad Osman, TASS Staff Member
Support Our Mission TASS continues its vital work, but the needs remain immense, particularly given recent funding gaps in the humanitarian sector in Bosaso. You can support TASS’s efforts to provide comprehensive, life-changing services to victims of human trafficking. To learn more or to contribute.
