This year’s theme for the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
highlights the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking.
The UN defines human trafficking in the Palermo Protocol as the ‘recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat, or use of force, coercion or deception…to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation’. According to this definition, trafficking includes sexual exploitation, forced and bonded labour, domestic servitude, any form of slavery and removal of organs.
At any given time, an estimated 2.5 million people are trapped in modern-day slavery. Men, women, and children fall into the hands of traffickers both in their own countries and abroad. Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.”
Survivors are key actors in the fight against human trafficking. They play a crucial role in establishing effective measures to prevent this crime, identifying, and rescuing victims and supporting them on their road to rehabilitation.
Many victims of human trafficking have experienced ignorance or misunderstanding in their attempts to get help. They have had traumatic post-rescue experiences during identification interviews and legal proceedings. Some have faced revictimisation and punishment for crimes they were forced to commit by their traffickers. Others have been subjected to stigmatisation or received inadequate support.
Learning from victims’ experiences and turning their suggestions into concrete actions will lead to a more victim-centred and effective approach in combating human trafficking.
In Zimbabwe there has been an increase in reported cases of ritual killings for the purpose of harvesting body parts. The sad case of Tapiwa Makore Jnr, a 7-year-old boy in Murewa murdered by his twin Uncles shone a light on these disturbing rituals.
The government of Zimbabwe should do more to ensure perpetrators of these violent crimes are dealt with swiftly and counselling provided to the grieving families.