Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG) now banks on current three-year strategic plan of the Home Affairs ministry to combat the rising cases of human trafficking in the country.
CHRGG Vice Chairman, Mohamed Khamis Hamad, has said that the strategic plan would see the country getting rid of trafficking in men and women.
In his statement issued during the commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which was marked over the weekend, Mr Hamad said the commission wants the Ministry of Home Affairs through its national committee to combat human trafficking and intensify training programmes on the effects of human trafficking in the country.
“CHRGG also wants the government through its institutions dealing with human trafficking to establish a special rehabilitation programmes that will help victims to get out of post-traumatic stress disorders so that they can return to normalcy and rejoin their families,’’ he said.
Mr Hamad further said that before allowing their children to be taken by persons for offering them jobs inside and outside the country, they should get details on such people who want to take their children. This year’s theme for the World Day Against Trafficking in persons is “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way”.
The theme according to the CHRGG Vice chairman highlights the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking. Survivors are key actors in the fight against human trafficking. They play a crucial role in establishing effective measures to prevent this crime, identifying and rescuing victims and supporting them on their road to rehabilitation. According to CHRGG, many victims of human trafficking have lacked information over where they could get help.
They have had traumatic post-rescue experiences during identification interviews and legal proceedings. Some have faced revictimisation and punishment for crimes they were forced to commit by their traffickers. Others have been subjected to stigmatization or received inadequate support.
Therefore, learning from victims’ experiences and turning their suggestions into concrete actions will lead to a more victim-centred and effective approach in combating human trafficking. According to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in the midst of a global pandemic, accompanied by rising inequalities and economic devastation, the voices of human trafficking survivors and victims risk being drowned out.
In his message to commemorate the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, Mr Guterres said listening to their stories was more crucial than ever as the COVID-19 crisis increased fragilities and drove up desperation.
“Children are at great and growing risk, they represent one-third of victims globally — a share that has tripled in the last 15 years. Half of victims in low-income countries are children, most of whom are trafficked for forced labour. Criminals everywhere are using technology to identify, control and exploit vulnerable people. Children are increasingly targeted through online platforms for sexual exploitation, forced marriage and other forms of abuse,’’ he said.
According to him, trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation continues to be one of the most widespread and abhorrent forms of human trafficking. Migrants account for more than half of those trafficked in most regions.
