Trafficking in Persons: A Call to Action for Global Leaders

Human trafficking is modern day slavery hence it should not be condoned.  Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy joined a myriad of organisations to condemn and denounce ‘human trafficking’ during  the Food for Thought [FFT] under the theme “Trafficking in Persons in Zimbabwe” which was organized by the The United States Embassy Public Affairs Section at Eastgate Mall in Harare on the 14th of March 2017.

The United States of America played a significant role in delineating the cross cutting causes and vulnerabilities of human trafficking. Victims of sex trafficking are often hired into slavery by promise of a better life, only to find themselves trapped into exploitation. During discussion time, Mr. V. A. Chikanda pointed out that, the world should not generalize ‘trafficking’. Various other acts considered human trafficking deserved special naming so laws can be enacted to meet the challenges. Cultural enslavement of young girls through the so-called ‘child marriages’ have been lumped as human trafficking!. We need to find appropriate   terms to address this heinous practice.. Many concurred that traffickers and pimps will succeed as long as community members continue to tolerate the injustice of human trafficking in their own backyard using culture as an excuse. Cultures needed to be modernized and upgraded to mitigate the vicious world exploitation and human enslavement cycles.  .

Samantha Munodawafa an employee of United Nations (ODC) mentioned that people with albinism are at high risk in Malawi and Mozambique. Friends, family members and well-wishers should not be taken for granted as they could also be links of human trafficking. Domestic trafficking which include child marriages is also a major issue which should not be condoned.

Leading public awareness campaigns, public hearings for civil society, engaging survivors of trafficking in persons among other solutions should be taken into consideration. Once this generation goes from apathy to action, we will see human trafficking end in our lifetime.

The discussion agreed to remain seized on the matter and resolved that fighting trafficking in human beings was a crime needing all of us to shame and condemn through awareness campaigns.

Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy