The Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Dyane Epstein has charged law enforcement agencies to prioritise the safety of victims in fighting human trafficking. “Investigating and prosecuting traffickers cannot be pursued at the expense of the safety and well-being of the victim. It should be noted that the best evidence against traffickers remains the testimony of the individuals they have trafficked.” Ms Epstein was speaking at the opening ceremony of a Training Workshop for Law Enforcement Agencies and Prosecutors in Combating Trafficking in Persons & Irregular Migration in Ghana organised by the International IOM and funded by the Royal Danish Embassy. She said “In bringing the traffickers to justice, law enforcement is called upon to take a victim-centered approach that would ensure that victims are assisted and protected at all times. This will be one area of focus during this training workshop.” The Chief of Mission implored “law enforcement officers to go beyond their routine duties and adopt a proactive approach to identify, investigate, and assist in the prosecution of cases of human trafficking.” That she said was because human trafficking is a dehumanizing human tragedy which denies people of their right to fundamental freedoms and human rights. She expressed regret that “in the 21st century such a crime is still widespread and indeed a problem that occurs in nearly every country of the world.” “In order to combat the phenomenon of human trafficking, there is the need for inter-state cooperation, which requires equipping ourselves with instruments and other best practices used in the global context in fighting against it,” she emphasised.