Anti-trafficking operation rescues 160
BUKOBA: ABOUT 160 Tanzanians who fell victim to human trafficking have been rescued and reunited with their families following a special operation conducted between July last year and February this year.
A Senior Officer with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, Mr Daniel Joseph, said 126 victims were rescued within the country, while 34 others were rescued from foreign countries.
He made the remarks on Monday during the opening of a two-day training for law enforcement agencies in Kagera Region held in Bukoba Municipality.
The training brought together magistrates, public prosecutors, police officers attached to gender desks and community development officers.
Mr Joseph described human trafficking as a serious crime involving the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of people through force, fraud or coercion for exploitation, including forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation.
“This issue affects millions of men, women and children worldwide, making it a form of modern slavery. Human trafficking is not only a violation of human rights but also a significant global challenge that requires concerted efforts to combat and prevent,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Tanzania Relief Initiatives (TRI) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Edwin Mugambira, urged members of the public to report suspected human traffickers to the authorities to facilitate investigations and prosecution.
He also called on police investigators and public prosecutors to intensify investigations to identify and bring to justice those behind human trafficking networks.
Mr Mugambira said traffickers often exploit people seeking better economic opportunities by luring them through the internet, employment agencies, the media and local contacts.
“Middlemen who recruit within the country often share the same cultural background as the migrants, making it easier to gain their trust. Many victims see smugglers as an opportunity to escape poverty and seek better lives in more developed countries,” he said.
The training was organised by Tanzania Relief Initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs with financial support from the Hans Seidel Foundation (HSF).
