Malawi Commemorates World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
The day was set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness of the evils of human trafficking and call for action to end the crime.
Lilongwe, Malawi - Malawi joined the international community on July 30 to commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, writes Benson Kamonjola.
The day was set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness of the evils of human trafficking and call for action to end the crime.
In a statement, Malawi's Minister of Homeland Security, Kenneth Zikhale Ng'oma, said the government is committed to ending human trafficking by bringing perpetrators to justice.
He said that many people in Malawi are being trafficked both locally and abroad, for reasons including forced labour and sexual exploitation.
"Global crises, conflicts, and the climate emergency are escalating trafficking risks," Ng'oma said.
"Displacement and social-economic inequalities are impacting millions of people, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers."
Ng'oma called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations and faith-based organisations, to advocate against human trafficking.
He said that law enforcement officers in Malawi intercepted about 138 victims of trafficking in the past year, including 21 from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Meanwhile, Ghada Waly, the United Nations Director for Drugs and Crime, said that millions of people around the world are still victims of human trafficking.
Waly called on countries to take action to end the crime and said that local people also have a role to play by reporting suspected trafficking activities.
"This requires support from all sectors of society, from healthcare to social services to law enforcement," Waly said.
The theme of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons this year is "Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind."