Prosecutors get mannual on human trafficking

By Stuart Lisulo, Thu 12 Sep. 2013, 14:00 CAT

JUSTICE deputy minister Ngosa Simbyakula says there have been very few prosecutions of human trafficking cases in Zambia.

Speaking at the official launch of the first manual for law enforcement officers and prosecutors to combat human trafficking in Zambia, Simbyakula said the training manual provided practical tools to law enforcement officers and prosecutors to understand and effectively apply the provisions of the anti-human trafficking Act of 2008 to ensure the successful prosecution of human trafficking cases.

The manual, which builds on already existing training for law enforcement officers, will equip prosecutors with a clear understanding of what human trafficking is, he said.

Simbyakula said with a focus on the role of prosecutors in the fight against human trafficking, the manual would also sensitise officers on victim identification and assistance as well as witness protection.
Officers included in the training of trainers, which commenced yesterday, include personnel from Zambia Police, the Department of Immigration, National Prosecutions Authority, Drug Enforcement Commission, Zambia Law and Development Commission and the Ministry of Justice.

Simbyakula further said the government’s expectation was to see an increase in the number of successfully prosecuted cases of human trafficking.

And US Embassy chargé d’affaires David Young said the training manual would enable law enforcement officers to bring victims of trafficking “out of the shadows and into the light” where they could find justice and support to rebuild their lives.

They suffer under what President Obama has called the ‘intolerable yoke of modern slavery.’ Last year, roughly 46,000 victims of trafficking were brought to light worldwide, but millions still enslaved. These victims need justice. These victims need our help, said Young.

Chief of Mission at the International Organisation for Migration Andrew Choga who officially handed over the manual to Simbyakula said there was a need to understand what trafficking was and to have a clear picture on when the act had been committed.