HUMAN TRAFFICKING, A FORM OF MODERN DAY SLAVERY

…………Zimbabwe 2010 redlight campaign launched

BY WALLACE MAWIRE

Peter Mutoredzanwa, Country Director OXFAM Great Britain, Country Lead for OXFAM International in Zimbabwe has described human trafficking as a form of modern day slavery and urged various players to solve the problem by improving the lives of vulnerable women and children being affected.

  Mutoredzanwa made the remark at the launch of the Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) Zimbabwe redlight campaign on human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and girls in Harare on Friday 31 July, 2009.

  The redlight campaign seeks to generate concern and inspire action against sexploitation. It is a worldwide, grassroots initiative whose mission it is to reduce the number of children sold to the sex industry and exploited on the internet.

  The campaign was launched regionally in Johannesburg , South Africa in November 2008.WLSA has also produced a referral directory that can offer assistance to victims. At the time of writing and on the day of the launch, WLSA was making plans to travel to Gwanda, which has been selected as the site for interventions.

  During legal education and training workshops, communities in Gwanda expressed concern over the number of young girls being lured to South Africa on false pretences. WLSA felt this was likely to get worse following the change in immigration policies. Also as a form of intervention, WLSA last year trained 30 peer educators on domestic violence. In Gwanda, a redlight soccer and netball tournament was being planned at the time of the launch. According to Getrude Matsika of WLSA, a sports gala was being planned for 4 August pitting 8 primary schools and 2 secondary schools in Gwanda district.

  She said that school children will be competing using balls with, a stop human trafficking, inscription emblazoned on them as part of the campaign. Matsika said that their investigations have revealed that in Gwanda they have been high school dropouts as school children are lured by Amalaicha (Human traffickers) to Egoli, ( South Africa ), the presumed land of gold. She also said that other school children in Gwanda district have confessed that their colleagues have been lured by human traffickers.

  Matsika also said at the  campaign launch that Gwanda will be the starting point on  intervention sites to be targeted but the campaign will also cover 9 provinces of the country where sports galas will be held to educate school children. She added that WLSA and its partners in the initiative is planning to disseminate information and raise awareness.

  WLSA plans to carry out intensified media campaigns, partnerships and documentation of activities. It also plans to come up with a research document on human trafficking and a publication. WLSA has been partnering with organizations like OSISA, OXFAM GB,EUROPEAN COMMISSION,UNIFEM and HIVOS in the redlight human trafficking initiative. HIVOS has offered financial support and OXFAM GB has offered expertise including financial support. Other partners included the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women Affairs and WLSA regional offices.

  Mr Mutoredzanwa said at the launch that on a sad note all indications are that the World Cup in 2010 will be used by human traffickers to lure unsuspecting victims to South Africa on the pretext that there is a lot of money to be made from the event. He says that South Africa has been confirmed as a source, transit and destination country.

   He added that human trafficking in the third largest and fastest growing organized crime and in the process millions of people are subjected to horrific forms of abuse. He said that WLSA is partnering with OXFAM GB and other organizations to bring to light the dangers associated with the World Cup in 2010.

  Mutoredzanwa added that on a positive note, SADC has developed a comprehensive ten year strategic plan of action to combat human trafficking.

  Also at the launch, WLSA Deputy Chairperson of the board of trustees Mrs Synodia Chikanza said that the research on human trafficking is done in phases and they are in the sixth phase where they are focusing on human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls.

  She said that WLSA views human trafficking as a violation of the rights of women and concreted efforts are needed to fight it. She also added that it is encouraging to note that not so long ago not much was known about human trafficking. Now there are many studies and programmes on human trafficking being implemented by many organizations in Southern Africa and beyond. She said that as WLSA they are grateful that since they started the redlight 2010 campaign, there are many who have joined them along the way.