PROTECT THE KIDS FROM TRAFFICKERS

CHILD TRAFFICKING PROBLEM

According to the United States Department of State (USDOS) (2009), Tanzania is said to be a source, transit route and destination of trafficking activities. The USDOS report (ibid) reveals that women and children are trafficked to South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Sweden, for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. It further reports that Indian women who are trafficked to Tanzania to work as entertainers in restaurants and nightclubs are forced into prostitution. Other trafficked people to Tanzania come from Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda (IOM, 2010b).

The information provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) shows that in Tanzania 97% of cases of trafficking are internal involving young children; in terms of sex, 74 % of the victims are female. The girls are trafficked from Iringa, Morogoro, Singida, Dodoma and Arusha to Dar es Salaam and to the island of Zanzibar for domestic servitude. Upon entering the cities, trafficked girls fall victim to various vices like prostitution etc.

OUR SOLUTION

TAJPI is committed to protecting 15,000 deprived and marginalized 0-15 years old children’s right to safety, security and wellbeing of Arusha District. Our experience tells us that the trafficking of infants and young children stems first and foremost from the economic and social challenges that parent face in providing for their families – challenges that push them to give their babies up or maintain dangerous childcare practices that separate little ones from the adults who want to keep them safe. As a leader in human rights protection to vulnerable groups of community.

TAJPI is well positioned to take the lead in addressing this challenge by providing kids’ families with training and start-up materials in high-demand trades to reduce their financial vulnerability to traffickers. TAJPI will also build awareness to parents and other community members around young child trafficking using print media like posters and leaflets, and will educate parents about safe, legal options that they can consider if they find that they cannot provide for a child.

PROJECT MILESTONE

Although we are still raising money for this project, we still utilize utilize our internal resources to ensure some of the project activities are carried out. For this third quarter, we have managed to conduct awareness raising to community members and parents’ associations/groups in Baraa, Sekei and Sokoni II Ward. The topic was about how to protect children by recognizing early signs from traffickers. TAJPI reached total of 30 persons.

WAY FORWARD

The successful implementation of this project depends the availability of the fund. It is our hope that, different supporters from different corner of the world whose interest is to see these vulnerable children living a decent and meaningful live, will still financially support this project to realize its objective.

REPORT PREPARED BY OMAR MSONGA

POSITION: PROGRAM MANAGER