Convict gets 55 years for human trafficking

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MBABANE – A hum a n t r a f f i c k i n g convict was sentenced to 55 years imprisonment.

Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini said: “In the current year, for example, we have identified three cases, two domestic trafficking cases involving minor emaSwati girls and one international trafficking case, which involved a minor girl of Mozambican origin.

From the domestic cases, one involves three minors and the suspect was convicted and sentenced to 55 years imprisonment. One case involved four minors and it is pending before court.”

DISHEARTENING

He said it was disheartening to note that the girl child seemed to be the primary target of such malicious criminals and this therefore calls for gover nment and her partners to further strengthen their interventions to protect the girl child in particular.

The premier was speaking at his offices during the commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking of Persons.

“This day is observed globally on July 30, each year. This year’s theme, as announced by the United Nations, is ‘ Victims’ Voices Lead the Way’, which highlights the importance of victim identification, timely rescue and care and is a call to all of us to give ourselves time to hear victims out and respect them.”

He said people trafficking continued to be a major issue across the globe with an increase in the number of reported missing persons, including children.

RISK

“The risk that the missing persons may be victims of trafficking cannot be ruled out. This simply means no one is safe, least of all our children, who need our protection at all times.”

The premier said he was pleased that the country was working together with collaborative partners, continued to intensify efforts to improve people trafficking interventions, in particular in the three pillars of prevention, protection and prosecution.

He expressed gratitude at the successful prosecution of trafficking cases, in particular domestic trafficking cases.

Dlamini also highlighted that COVID- 19 had also brought its fair share of challenges, which have somehow impeded efforts to respond to trafficking in persons and programmes aimed at combating people trafficking.

“Nonetheless, we are committed to reviving those programmes and implementing them, recognising all COVID- 19 regulations as applicable. We do take note that COVID- 19 does not only impose challenges to government programmes, but also increases citizens’ vulnerability to people trafficking and people smuggling,” he said.

The premier said government was working with international partners such as the International Organisation for Migration ( IOM) and has been able to identify a shelter for trafficking victims, which is currently in the final stages of refurbishment. “Apart from housing victims, this shelter will be utilised to offer moral, emotional and medical support to victims of people trafficking.”

RANKED

The 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report by the Washington Trafficking in Persons Office has ranked the country as a tier two country, which means the country’s response to people trafficking was plausible and had evidence of good efforts, but does not recognise all minimum standards put in place.

“As much as we applaud the tier two ranking as an achievement, we however note that a lot still needs to be done. In the meantime, we take a leaf from the positives and seek to improve on the negatives,” said the PM.