Fight the injustice of human trafficking in Rwanda

INTRODUCTION

Since December of 2019, EJOTWIFUZA Organization started implementing the project of fighting the injustice of human trafficking through land transit monitoring and helping potential victims find a safe passage back to their homes. Transit Monitoring involves the identification, interception, and assistance of actual or high-risk trafficking victims at transit points (such as airports, borders, and bus or train stations) before they reach the destination where they will be exploited. This also include collecting human-trafficking data, and assisting the local National Police and Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) with investigations to arrest traffickers and their networks.

This project has been initiated after observing that When the world is struggling with different diseases such as Covid-19 and economic challenges, Human trafficking is become one of the lucrative business. According to the Global Slavery Index, 40.3 million people live in modern-day slavery because of human trafficking. Approximately 79% of trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation, and with 18% being trafficked for forced labor.  It is estimated that over US$30 billion are generated in profits through trafficked persons every year.

 The government of Rwanda demonstrated remarkable efforts in fighting human trafficking, However, as reported over the past five years, Rwanda is still remaining a source, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. According to the Global slavery index 2020, In the current 13 million of the Rwandan population, it is estimated that 134,000 population are living in modern-day slavery. Among them 61.72% related to 82,70 4 peoples are at high risk of being trafficked and this number is continue growing today than ever in history. Traffickers subject Rwandan men, women, and children to sex trafficking, organs business, recruitment of children in terrorisms and armed group and forced labor in domestic work, agricultural, industrial, and service sectors within the Country and abroad including in Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Kuwait, India, and parts of East Asia. Traffickers reportedly exploit Rwandan victims in domestic servitude in the Middle East and sex trafficking in China. 

We wonder, however if we began looking at these numbers a real people, just like you and me, like family and friends, then maybe we would be more determined to do something about it. When we look at this issue and the scope of this problem, it’s understandable to be at a loss of how we can help make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. Each of those 40 million people has face a name and family. Each of those 40 million people was created beautifully in the image of God, to live out their life with purpose. At EJO TWIFUZA, we decided to contribute to the Government efforts to stop human trafficking. Our aim, however, is to do much more than just save a few individuals while human trafficking networks continue to destroy lives; we want to “stop it and promote Human dignity.

PROJECT IMPACTS FROM 2019 TO DATE

 The impact resulted from EJOTWIFUZA Activities in Anti – human trafficking is that from December 2019, the organization’s voluntaries staffs intercepted 220 people (22 men that represent 10% and 200 women which represent 90%) country wide to prevent them from being trafficked, and helped them find safe ways back to their respective home families in different districts and countries such as DRC and Burundi. 4 suspected Criminals are arrested and other 4 suspected criminals’ cases are in investigation process in collaboration with the National Police and Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB). For emergency support to the most vulnerable population in the Covid-19 pandemic, EJOTWIFUZA provided more than 3 tons of food to assist more than 1000 people from the most vulnerable families in the District of Nyarugenge, Gicumbi and Rubavu affected by the Covid-19 pandemic economically.

PLANNED OBJECTIVES FOR 2023-2024

To continue impacting our community in 2023- 2024, our team has the objectives of to raising community awareness on human trafficking by focusing activities on education of 30 000 youth students in secondary school from 8 districts of Rwanda. 2. For land transit monitoring: EJOTWIUZA want to train 16 special monitors volunteers to conduct transit site monitoring of 8 strategic stations of Rwanda. 3. For the assistance of the intercepted victims of human trafficking: • Based on the last experience we expect to assist more than 240 victims each Year with short term shelter, food, healing assistance and transports to get how to rich safe family home and for Reducing the vulnerability of intercepted victims and children at risk of being trafficked • EJOTWIFUZA will Providing professional and Training Skills (TVT), as well as the Startup Materials and financial support to start a small business to reduce the vulnerability of intercepted victims and children at risk of being trafficked. To make this possible, our team planned to mobilize total funding amounted of $ 1,421,786. 

REALIZATION ON THE PLANNED OBJECTIVES OF 2023-2024 

For raising community awareness on human trafficking in secondary school from 8 districts of Rwanda: Schools are now just identified and didactic materials are in development process

For the training of 16 special monitors volunteers to conduct transit site monitoring of 8 strategic stations of Rwanda: 4volunteers have been trained on site monitoring, 2 victims are intercepted from human trafficking, 1 case of suspected trafficker is under investigation and a coordination meeting with 28 potential volunteers from the Districts have been done

For Victims assistance: 2 Victims intercepted from human trafficking are assisted with food, short term shelter, healing assistance and transport fees to get back home safe

For Reducing the vulnerability of intercepted victims and children at risk of being trafficked: To date the list of 600 identified vulnerable children at high risk of being trafficking is in consolidation and validation process by the Districts Authorities.

For Fund raising: In the total planed project budget equal to $ 1,421,786, We just raised the budget of 7,245 $. Thank you to the GlobalGiving for 450$ received raised from the GlobalGiving platform from Mars 2023. This support facilitated in transport to volunteers in the field identification of vulnerable children at high risk of being trafficking and supported 2victimes intercepted from human trafficking in June 2023. We thank all volunteers and EJO TWIFUZA members for their working and contribution in nature valued to $ 6,795 in materials and hours of working. We also are in the process of applying for grants in different ways.

For coordination monitoring and Evaluation, the Country director participated in different meeting with the GlobalGiving, local government meeting and conducted the transit site field visit in Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Rusizi and Karongi District.

We acknowledging the contributions of the GlobalGiving and all the people who donated and worked tirelessly on the projects mentioned within.

Thank you

Thank you to all our donors and volunteers. We couldn't have done it without your generous support.

• REPORT_ON_THE_PROJECT_OF_FIGHTING_THE_INJUSTICE_OF_HUMAN_TRAFFICKING_IN_RWANDA.pdf (PDF)