Message Of The Minister Of Internal Affairs In Observation World Day Against Trafficking In Person
The world Day against Trafficking In Persons is commemorated on the 30th of July of each year. As we stand alongside other countries worldwide to reflect the day under the theme, “Reach every victim of trafficking, LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND” as a nation, Seychelles remains committed in denouncing all forms of transnational organized crimes against humanity.
The theme, ‘LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND’ is the central transformative commitment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its sustainable goals to end exploitation of trafficking victims, support victims and survivors once they are free from their traffickers, and not leaving identifiable vulnerable groups to traffickers.
Trafficking In Persons is a serious crime that shatters the lives of victims, their families, friends and society in general. The injustice and brutality suffered by the victims of Trafficking In Persons is beyond measure. Like many other countries worldwide, we have not been spared from the scourge as a country of origin, transit or destination.
Global crisis, conflicts, climate emergency and displacement of socio-economic inequalities are all intensifying trafficking risks, impacting millions of people worldwide and making them vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has also changed the characteristics of trafficking by pushing it further underground, making new routes for disturbing development and trends, thus increasing the dangers for victims by making the crime less likely to come to the attention of the authorities. Worldwide statistics indicates that 41 % of victims who manage to escape reach out to authorities on their own initiative. This is a clear sign that anti trafficking responses are falling short.
As a small island state with limited resources, Seychelles continues to step up in its efforts, to fight against exploitation by unscrupulous individuals. This was clearly indicated in this year’s US report, where for the first time, we have reached Tier 1 and note mentioning, the first African Country to do so.
Though we remain committed to protect, respect and fulfill the human rights of all migrants in our country, statistics indicate that over 80% of our reported cases were of foreign nationals. We cannot lower our guards, and instead need to double our efforts in this fight against all forms of trafficking in our country. With special attention given towards our own who are targeting vulnerable groups such as women, children and those with special needs.
Despite our differences, let us not turn a blind eye. As a family member, a friend, a neighbour, a concerned citizen, a dedicated worker and foremost, as a patriot, let us reinforce our efforts to combat all forms of trafficking so that we ‘LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND’.