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Counter Trafficking
The fight against human trafficking is one of the core global activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Trafficking of persons is the “i) recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, ii) by means of threat, use of force or other means of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the receiving or giving of payment to a person having control over another person, iii) for the purpose of exploitation.”
In Tanzania, trafficking occurs both within and across the country’s borders. Many cases involve children who are recruited under false promises of a good education, for example, and end up being exploited as domestic workers, in the sex industry, or in the fishing and mining sectors. IOM’s work on Human Trafficking is focused on building the capacity and raising the awareness of the Tanzanian Government, civil society organizations and the general public, as well as providing assistance to victims of trafficking.
IOM is part of the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) 2011-2015, which is the business plan of 20 UN agencies, funds and programmes in Tanzania commonly known as “Delivering as One”. Within this plan, IOM contributes to the main objectives of the Programme Working Group on Social Protection. In the UNDAP plan, IOM Counter Trafficking Team contributes to the following main outputs within the Social Protection Working Group.
Capacity Building and technical assistance to the Tanzanian Anti-Trafficking Committee
On 21 August 2015, IOM collaborated with the National Anti Trafficking Secretariat to launch the Anti Trafficking in Persons Regulations and the updated National Anti Trafficking in Persons Action Plan. The event celebrated a major milestone reached by Tanzania, as the adoption of the regulations will translate the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act into measures on the ground. Both documents were developed through a series of successful coordination between IOM Tanzania, the government and other stakeholders in counter trafficking.
Assistance to Victims of Trafficking through Partnerships with Local NGOs
IOM collaborated with implementing partners, Wotesawa Young Domestic Workers Organisation (in Mwanza) and Faraja Vocational Training Centre (in Arusha) to continue to offer direct assistance to child victims of human trafficking. In 2015, the two centres assisted 47 victims, most of whom are expected to be reunified with their families or integrated with their community.
Training of trainers on child trafficking and delivery of assistance services to victims
In 2015, the Counter Trafficking unit ran seven trainings to train a total of 154 local government officials in referral and protection services for trafficked victims.
Mapping of Service Providers and Referral Networks
Projects: