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Ethiopia Launches Human Trafficking Hotline

Addis Ababa, 25, 2025 (ENA)– The first national anti-trafficking hotline was launched in Ethiopia today.

The hotline initiated by the International Organization for Migration was supported financially by the US Department of State and the European Union, alongside several government entities like Ethio telecom, it was learned.

During the launching ceremony, IOM Ethiopia Chief of Mission Abibatou Wane Fall said individuals will be connected to trained professionals who can provide confidential assistance, connect them to shelters, legal aid, and medical care, and ensure that their cases are handled with the urgency and sensitivity they deserve by dialing 8797.

The hotline will also serve in Amharic, Afan Oromo,Tigrigna and English; and address corrupt practices that aid trafficking, marking a significant advancement in Ethiopia’s fight against this issue.

The chief added that those affected require comprehensive support, starting with timely identification and referral to specialized services, and this national hotline will help prevent trafficking and risky migration, protect victims, and support prosecution efforts.

According to her, the hotline is a significant step the Ethiopian government has created to fight human trafficking.

It aims to assist victims and help authorities dismantle trafficking networks. The hotline serves as a lifeline for victims, hope for survivors, and a vital tool in combating human trafficking, offering safety and support, Wane Fall elaborated.

“Human trafficking is a global crisis, and Ethiopia is not immune. Each day, people are tricked, coerced, or forced into exploitative labor, prostitution, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced criminality, and debt bondage — stripped of their fundamental human rights.”