Recruitment agencies, institutions, Individuals and groups implicated in human trafficking must be held to account: NAHUSOM
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 10 – Network Against Human trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (NAHUSOM) working alongside government efforts and initiatives to combat human trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants in Kenya has expressed concern over increasing reports of human trafficking for forced criminality.
They noted that in the recent months multiple state officials, media houses, international organizations and partners have raised an alarm over human trafficking for forced criminality in Myanmar noting that Kenya’s Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Ministry confirmed the allegations.
“Kenyans and other foreign nationals were held in fraud centres located in areas controlled by rebel groups fighting Myanmar government making rescue operations extremely difficult”, Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Ministry revealed.
NAHUSOM stated that traffickers no longer just exploit individuals for forced labor, sexual exploitation or domestic servitude but are now coercing victims into engaging in illegal activities under duress.
“Kenyans are among other hundreds of foreign nationals who were trafficked to Myanmar late last year and forcibly used to commit various online crimes including fraud, identity theft, phishing, romance scams and cryptocurrency scams”, the Ministry revealed further.
In addition they acknowledged and appreciate efforts already undertaken by Kenyan government in addressing the Myanmar trafficking crisis including repatriation of victims and commended its continued commitment to securing there safe return.
One of NAHUSOM’s core mandate is to collaborate with government in implementing protocol to prevent, supress and punish trafficking in persons especially women and children supplementing United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
“We call upon Government of Kenya to immediately appoint and establish a special inquiry commission to investigate trafficking for forced criminality in Myanmar and other hot spot destinations, put in place preventive and proactive measures against trafficking for forced criminality”, they stated.
NAHUSOM further reiterated that institutions, groups, individuals and recruitment agencies implicated in human trafficking for forced criminality be held to account and protection of Migrant workers labor rights and strengthen reintegration support for survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery.
“To strengthen this initiative NAHUSOM will nominate counter human trafficking experts and professionals to join the inquiry commission and support its investigations, deliberations and ancillary functions, we urge immediate actions to ensure that no Kenyan becomes a victim of such exploitive and criminal trafficking schemes”.
