Norwegian Church Aid Appeals for Passing Trafficking in Persons Bill

Norwegian Church Aid Appeals for Passing Trafficking in Persons Bill

The Norwegian Church Aid has appealed to Members of Parliament to pass Trafficking in Persons Bill without hesitation once it is presented in the house on Thursday.

The bill is already appearing on order paper and is expected to be presented in the house this Thursday.

Cases of human trafficking are increasing in the country due to lack of specific legislation to curb such illegal practice. Last month 13 children the youngest being 6 years old were trafficked from Zomba to Mozambique and in Phalombe, Police have been involved in rescue operations with Mozambican authorities and more than  124 children have been rescued but some of these were mutilated their genitals according Norwegian Church Aid information.

Habiba Osman Gender Justice Programme coordinator for Norwegian Church Aid says current proposed legislation contains necessary provisions that can help to end the human trafficking which is rampant in Malawi in all regions and most vulnerable areas being border districts due to porous boundaries.

Habiba said Malawi is the only country in SADC region that does not have a comprehensive law on trafficking “There has been no specific legislation that prosecutes traffickers adequately” but assured “current proposed law is a good one” and hoped that the National Assembly will do the “need full” to pass this legislation.

She said absence of the legislation puts everyone in a vulnerable to trafficking and that everyone is living in fear. She therefore pleaded that, MPs should debate the bill of trafficking with sober mind and seriousness taking into account that trafficking is happening everywhere in the country.

“This legislation should be passed even without debate” she added

“It is my deepest call that when the bill reaches parliament members of parliament should not sent it back but should pass it” reacted Maxwell Matewere President for Southern Africa Network against Trafficking and Child Abuse (SANTAC)

He said “This bill is very important because it is supporting the victims through care programmes and rehabilitation and sheltering programmes among others. This is also important for the collaboration with other countries where prosecution will also be easy if for example Malawi arrests traffickers from other countries or Malawian traffickers arrested elsewhere”