The article examines the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement and the challenges of human trafficking in West Africa. It investigates the implication of ECOWAS protocol on free movement on human trafficking in West Africa. The data used for the study were obtained through secondary sources. The finding shows that protocol on the free movement of a person is a precursor for increase in human trafficking in West Africa due to border porosity. Based on the findings, it was suggested that the ECOWAS intensify more efforts with its member states to solve their economic problems as the vulnerability of human trafficking is from the low-performing economies in West Africa. In addition, it was also suggested that the ECOWAS should step up effort to bring to account the perpetrators of human trafficking.

中文翻译：

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西非国家经济共同体关于自由流动和西非人口贩运挑战的议定书

本文研究了西非国家经济共同体（ECOWAS）关于自由流动和西非人口贩运挑战的议定书。它调查了ECOWAS协议对自由流动对西非人口贩运的影响。用于研究的数据是通过辅助来源获得的。调查结果表明，关于人的自由流动的议定书是由于边境孔隙而增加西非人口贩运的先兆。根据调查结果，建议西非经共体与成员国加强努力解决其经济问题，因为贩运人口的脆弱性来自西非表现不佳的经济体。此外，还建议西非经共体应加紧努力，追究人口贩运肇事者的责任。