Section 4A: Steering Committee for Combating of Trafficking in

4A. Steering Committee for Combating of Trafficking in Persons (1) There shall be, for the purposes of this Act, a Steering Committee for Combating of Trafficking in Persons. (2) The Steering Committee shall consist of – (a) the Secretary for Home Affairs, to be the Chairperson; (b) a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office; (c) a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of family welfare; (d) a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of foreign affairs; (e) a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of labour; (f) a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of social security; (g) a representative of the Attorney-General’s Office; (h) a representative of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; (i) a representative of the Commissioner of Police; (j) the Director-General of Immigration. (3) The functions of the Steering Committee shall be to – (a) coordinate the development, regular review and implementation of national policies and activities to combat trafficking in persons; Acts 2023 681 (b) ensure coordination among the public authorities with a view to improving the effectiveness of existing policies to combat trafficking in persons; (c) ensure coordination with stakeholders to identify victims of trafficking in persons; (d) to assess the needs and protection of victims of trafficking in person; (e) collect, and cause to be analysed, statistics and other information from competent authorities to assess the effectiveness of policies and measures to combat trafficking in persons; and (f) make recommendations to the Minister for legislative regulatory and policy reforms for the purpose of combating trafficking in persons. (4) The Steering Committee shall meet – (a) at least once every month; and (b) at the request of the Chairperson, as often as is otherwise necessary. (5) In the absence of the Chairperson, the Steering Committee shall be chaired by the representative of the Prime Minister’s Office. (6) At any meeting of the Steering Committee, 6 members shall constitute a quorum. (7) (a) There shall be a Secretary to the Steering Committee who shall be a public officer to be designated by the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service. (b) The Secretary to the Steering Committee shall – (i) at the request of the Chairperson, convene members to attend a meeting of the Steering Committee; 682 Acts 2023 (ii) be responsible for keeping record of minutes of proceedings of every meeting of the Steering Committee; (iii) have such other duties as it may assign to him. (8) The Steering Committee may retain the services of – (a) such public officers as may be necessary, on such terms and conditions as the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service may approve; and (b) the employees of such relevant institutions as it may require in the discharge of its functions. (9) The Steering Committee may, as and when required, co-opt any other member to form part of the Steering Committee. (10) The Steering Committee may, in the discharge of its functions, set up such subcommittees as it deems necessary. (11) The members of the Steering Committee, its subcommittees, and the Secretary to the Steering Committee shall be paid such fees and allowances as the Minister may approve.