Gov�t urges NGOs to fight human trafficking
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday January 25, 2017 16:54
Officiating at the three-day training on Trafficking in Persons in Phakalane Gold Estate, Bagopi said that civil societies are better placed to detect incidents of human trafficking as some of them operate in remote areas where these cases are most prevalent due to the vulnerability of the people. “With the requisite training, I am convinced that you will be able to detect human trafficking and assist government to prosecute perpetrators, protect victims and prevent future incidents of human trafficking,” Bagopi said.
He added that although most civil societies operate with limited resources due to scarcity of donors, there has to be a way to generate funds to ensure that the fight against human trafficking and other social ills continues.
Bagopi further stated that human trafficking is a highly exploitative crime that strips its victims of dignity, self worth and one that leaves deep traumatic psychological scars that the victim may never recover from. “I firmly believe that if we dedicate enough time and effort to conduct extensive research on human trafficking in our local context, we would be able to effectively starve traffickers of a viable market.”
He also said that civil societies will be key partners in giving effect to the Botswana’s Anti-Human Trafficking Act under the Governance, Peace and Security Pillar of Vision 2036.
Bagopi expressed hope that civil societies will join hands with other stakeholders to prevent, punish and suppress trafficking in persons.
“Your input shall guide us to determine policies that will arrest human trafficking, and you will surely be instrumental in providing feedback that will shape and ensure that the Anti-Corruption Trafficking National Action Plan for this nation is indeed relevant and implemented,” he said.
Meanwhile, criminal justice programme officer from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Samantha Munodawafa said that human trafficking is a serious challenge to development in the SADC region.
However, she pointed out that there have been stepped up efforts to end it after a number of countries have come up with legislation on human trafficking.
She said that the number of prosecutions has increased. Munodawafa stated that the fight could be won by establishing partnerships with civil societies who can provide protection to victims and assist with the prosecution of perpetrators. She further said that civil societies assist in the alleviation of other factors such as poverty and in the process minimising vulnerability.