Activists calls for joint efforts to fight human trafficking
ACTIVISTS have called upon stakeholders to join forces in the fight against human trafficking and abuse of children and women in the country.
They were speaking at the media workshop on human trafficking to mark 16-Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence which starts on November 25 to December 10 every year.
The workshop was organised by ‘C-Sema in collaboration with Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Tanzania & East African Community.
Facilitators and participants pointed out that there is a seamless connection between Gender Based Violence (GBV) and human trafficking (HT), affecting women, men and children disproportionately.
Mr Ahmad Saidi Mwendadi, Head of Training, Advocacy & International Cooperation, Unit- The Anti-Trafficking Secretariat in the Ministry of Home Affairs said that, it is high time all stakeholders at all levels joined efforts to deal with human trafficking by getting fully involved.
“Journalists should be in the forefront in combating the inhuman deals taking place within and outside the country,” Mwendadi said adding that women and children need to enjoy their rights by being free from trafficking.
He said that human trafficking is a serious crime and that “We have intercepted, rehabilitated and resettled more than one-hundred children in the past one year, at Malindi.”
Speaking at the workshop, Mr Emilio Rossetti, deputy Head of Mission at the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Tanzania observed that,” the annual 16 days of Activism against Gender based violence is highly important for the EU and our Member States, as we reaffirm our commitment to end all forms of violence against women and girls.”
He said the 16 days helps to raise awareness about GBV and call for global action and advocacy efforts and that raising awareness on human trafficking, and especially the impact trafficking has on women and children, and more especially here in Zanzibar is important.
Mr Edwin Mugambila, CEO-Tanzania Relief Initiatives said that studies indicate that while there is need for more empirical research to better understand the nature of the relationship between GBV and trafficking, there is significant anecdotal evidence that GBV is a driver in women and girls’ vulnerability to being trafficked.
Many of the factors that make women vulnerable to GBV are gender discrimination, poverty, natural disasters, conflict, poor education and health infrastructures.
He said the factors are similar to the root causes of human trafficking and serve as push factors for women and girls’ escape from their homes and into the perilous world of traffickers and exploitation.
