Netherlands $3m to counter Burundi trafficking
The International Organization
for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Government of Burundi, has
launched a project to strengthen government capacity to combat trafficking in
persons.
Burundi’s precarious security
situation has created an opportunity for human traffickers who often target the
most vulnerable.
An estimated 346,000 Burundians
remain in neighboring countries as refugees while 130,000 are internally
displaced.
The project, known as Burundi
Counter-Trafficking 2019-2022 will reinforce the government’s efforts to combat
human trafficking and other cross-border crimes. The $3m project funded by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands will run for three years.
Burundi is a source country for
trafficked persons, according to the US Trafficking in Persons Report. Adults
and children can be coerced into forced labour, domestic servitude,
prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation throughout the region and
elsewhere in the world.
This new partnership will serve
as a coordination mechanism for government ministries and link them to the
national police and civil society to implement anti-trafficking measures.
Activities under the new project will include strengthening the national
referral system for protection and providing reintegration assistance to
trafficking victims.
While actively engaging border
communities, the project will help build the capacity of security agencies to
effectively reduce and prevent human trafficking and cross-border crime, raise
awareness on the basic rights of populations and create standard operating
procedures for law enforcement stakeholders on handling TiP cases.
The ad hoc committee appointed by
the Office of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi presented the
Integrated Work Plan Against Trafficking in Persons 2019-2020 during the launch
of the project. The Work Plan follows the adoption of the 2014 law to prevent
and combat human trafficking.
During the project launch
ceremony, the First Vice-President of Burundi, Gaston Sindimwo said, “We are
aware that human trafficking cannot be fought effectively without an integrated
approach based on respect for human rights and taking into account the
national, regional and global nature of the phenomenon.”
“A joint action by all stakeholders
at the national level as outlined in the Plan, which is our focus today, is
aimed at continually improving our collective perception of the issues related
to trafficking in persons and combining our efforts to maximize our
effectiveness,” he continued.
Caecilia Wijgers, Ambassador of
the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burundi, said: “Trafficking in persons is a
subject that requires all of us to find a solution for these tragic cases,
where ordinary people find themselves one day in a nightmare when they believed
they would start a promising phase of their lives. We appreciate that IOM’s
programme has an integrated approach, as it is a problem for which we must work
together across various disciplines.”
AJ Morgen, IOM Burundi Chief of
Mission said, “This three-year project will not only help combat trafficking
and other cross-border crimes, such as migrant smuggling, but also improve the
human security of communities affected by human trafficking and provide
appropriate support to victims of trafficking. This launch is a milestone event
for all as it represents the basis for cooperation between different actors
that will continue to be strengthened during the implementation of this
project.”
The launch ceremony in Bujumbura
was also attended by the Minister of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender,
Martin Nivyabandi; the UN Resident Coordinator in Burundi, Dr. Garry Conille; a
representative of the Mayor of Bujumbura, Christophe Kinshasa; representatives
of various ministries, local authorities, governors, civil society and members
of the ad hoc commission.
Comments
Post a Comment