Ndelu Tables Anti-Human Trafficking Bill

The bill, read by Minister Ramadeluka Seretse for the first time on Wednesday, aims to domesticate the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children.

The bill intends to do this by instituting measures for the implementation of the protocol, prohibiting the promotion, facilitation or any others means which allow exploitation through trafficking of humans and ensuring the just and effective punishment of traffickers by providing for effective investigation and prosecution of smugglers. It will also lay down a legislative framework within which the prevention and elimination of human trafficking is to be effected in Botswana. The bill also aspires to provide for a mechanism to cater for the safe repatriation of victims and their protection, rehabilitation, care and assistance as well as to establish a specialised committee, which can advise on the programmes to be used in the assistance and protection of victims as well as manage the Victims of Trafficking Fund.