Zambia launches new tools to protect vulnerable migrants

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 1, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Zambia, in close cooperation with the UN country team, and with the support of the European Union and the IOM Development Fund, last week hosted the 4th National Symposium on Human Trafficking in Lusaka.

The two-day meeting, which had the theme “Zambia@50: Protecting Migrants from Trafficking and Exploitation”, brought together over 100 government and NGO participants from across the country to reflect on what has been achieved in the fight against human trafficking and how to improve protection for vulnerable migrants in the future.

At the opening of the event, Zambian Vice President Dr. Guy Scott officially launched a new tool kit for the protection of vulnerable migrants.

The tools, which were developed by IOM, UNICEF and UNHCR, together with government and civil society counterparts, include mechanisms for the identification, protection and referral of the most vulnerable people on the move.

They are intended to strengthen border officials and service providers’ awareness and understanding of international, regional and national legal instruments for the protection of migrants, including victims of human trafficking.

“Across generations human beings have migrated in search of a better life. But such hopes do not always materialize. Lured by the false promises of traffickers, many victims of trafficking are subject to abuse and violations of human rights of the worst kind, including violence at the hands of traffickers or migrant smugglers whilst in transit, and ultimately facing sexual or labour exploitation,” said UN Resident Coordinator Simon Cammelbeeck.

Zambia is a source, destination and transit point for human trafficking and the complexity of population movements from, to and through the country is increasing. Flows often include refugees, asylum seekers, economic migrants, victims of trafficking and unaccompanied and separated minors.