World Day Against Trafficking In Persons 2024

As we observe the 10th World Day against Trafficking in Persons, our focus is on the most vulnerable amongst us – children. The 2024 theme” Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”, stresses on the urgency of protecting the youngest and most vulnerable victims. This year’s theme calls for increased efforts to end Child trafficking, a grievous crime affecting millions each year including Seychelles.

 

Human trafficking is not just a violation of human rights, it is a stark reminder of the darkest corners of our society where greed and exploitation thrive. It preys on the vulnerable, robbing them of their dignity, their freedom and their future. The UNODC global report 2022 stipulates that female victims are subjected to physical or extreme violence at the hand of traffickers, at a rate three times higher than males, while children are subjected to physical or extreme violence at a rate almost two times higher than adults.

Child trafficking is not just a distant issue seen in movies or from the news overseas; it is a pervasive reality that touches every community including ours. The victims could be children from our community, attending the same school as you or your children, shopping at the same shop or supermarket or even a family member. These faces though may not always be physically marked with hardship or suffering, need our attention and action. The physical and psychological scars of these crimes persists long into adulthood, robbing them of their innocence, futures and fundamental rights.

 

Children account for about one third of trafficking victims worldwide and they do not end up in these dire circumstances on their own. They are often overlooked victims by the adults who have failed to protect them, and which may have led to their poverty, trauma and hardship, thus increasing their susceptibility to trafficking.

Rising inequalities and globalization have fueled complex trafficking networks that challenge traditional legal frameworks, creating new forms of slavery. Furthermore, the proliferation of online platforms poses additional risks as children often connect to these sites without adequate safeguards. Traffickers exploit online platforms, social media and the dark web to recruit and exploit children, utilizing technology to evade detection, reach wider audiences, and disseminate exploitative content. These diverse ways expose children to sexual exploitation and gender based violence and allow traffickers to exploit victims both locally and worldwide, and this makes sexual exploitation prevalent among child victims.

 

Identification and protection of child victims remains challenging due to under reporting, lack of awareness, and inadequate resources for victim support services. Traffickers may often employ coercion, deception and threats to maintain control over their victims, making it difficult for authorities to intervene.

Though Seychelles has reached Tier 1 for another consecutive year, and again as the only country in Africa on the US Trafficking in Persons report, we understand the urgency of this issue. We recognize that human trafficking knows no borders, respects no laws and affects every corner of the globe. Our efforts are not merely about enforcement but about empathy and justice for the victims.

 

In 2023, we saw 2 cases of potential Child trafficking that was charged before the supreme court. What saddens our community is that both cases indicate more than 1 potential child victim. However, legislative measures alone are not enough. We must tackle the root causes that make individuals susceptible to trafficking. Education and awareness are our greatest tools in this fight. We must empower our communities with knowledge so they can recognize the signs of trafficking and take action.

We are determined to be at the forefront of this global movement. We will continue to strengthen our partnerships, enhance our laws, empower our communities but we cannot do this alone. We need the collaborative support of every single citizen. Let us start with initiating difficult conversations about the topic, at work, at home, at school and wherever we can make an impact. Not only today but every day. Let us renew our collective commitment to protect the vulnerable, prosecute the perpetrators and prevent this crime from ever occurring.

 

Let us pledge to work together and beyond differences to build a Seychelles where every person, regardless of their circumstances, can live in dignity.

I therefore call on everyone who suspects that another human being is being taken advantage of, abused or trafficked, to not lay a blind eye but to report the injustice and the crime and help bring the perpetrators to justice as this fights involves everyone. If you suspect a person is being trafficked or if you wish to seek help call the Trafficking In Persons Hotline on 144.