Overview of the desk Review of Counter-

Trafficking Initiatives in IGAD and EAC Regions

December 2010

Introduction

• This desk review was conducted as part of AU/IOM project entitled ‘Stop Trafficking Now!’

• The project aims at contributing to member states’ efforts to combat human trafficking

• A review of counter-trafficking efforts undertaken by IGAD and EAC member states, as well as IGAD and EAC secretariats, and the African Union Commission.

Objectives

• The specific objectives of the assessment are to:– identify existing initiatives;– identify existing gaps and challenges; – compile an inventory of interventions;– a comprehensive analysis of efforts to allow

constructive discussions and identification of concrete actions

Methodology

• Desk review of relevant documents, laws, studies

• Questionnaire developed based on OAP• Visits to all member states of IGAD and EAC,

except Somalia

Initiatives to combat TIP

• Based on the OAP, initiatives are categorized into:– Prevention and awareness raising;– Victim protection and assistance;– Legislative framework, policy development and law

enforcement; and– Cooperation and coordination.

• Gaps• Recommendations based on OAP• The desk review does not assess the situation of TIP

in member states.

TIP in the region - 2010

Countries Country of origin

Country of transit

Country of destination

Burundi x xDjibouti x x xEthiopia xKenya x x xRwanda x xSomalia x xSudan x x xTanzania x x xUganda x x

Prevention and awareness raising

• A number of initiatives have been documented

• Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have programmes promoting the rights of children in general and protecting them from trafficking in particular

• Some sort of awareness raising and information campaigns against TIP are documented in most countries

Continued

• Rwanda is planning to conduct awareness raising and information campaigns

• Burundi has provided pre-deployment anti-trafficking training to Burundian peacekeepers

• Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania have programmes that create and enhance vocational training and livelihoods alternatives to vulnerable youth;

Recommendations to fight TIP include:

– ensuring education and training opportunities– providing viable employment and other livelihood

opportunities – improving the economic and living conditions of

families and extended families– Strengthening awareness raising and information

campaigns– Developing a system to collect and analyze data

on TIP– Conducting research on the situation of TIP

Forms of TIP

• Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda criminalize all forms of TIP

• Ethiopia criminalizes trafficking in women and children for forced labour and prostitution

• Sudan criminalizes sex trafficking, abduction, luring and forced labour

Law enforcement

• Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Uganda have a special unit within the police dealing with TIP

• Kenya has a special unit within Interpol

• In Ethiopia, MoFA, Federal Police, Prosecutor’s Office and Immigration Authority have established a direct channel of communication to share information for the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases

• Djibouti-Ethiopia, and Djibouti-Yemen, have develop joint border control dealing with TIP

• Cooperation between Kenya and Ethiopia is underway

Training of law enforcement officials on how to deal with TIP

• Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda conducted training of law enforcement, immigration officials and judges

• Burundi and Rwanda are planning to conduct training of law enforcement and immigration officials supported by UNODC and IOM

Cooperation and coordination

A Regional Plan of Action to prevent and combat TIP in Eastern Africa is developed between IGAD and EAC member states within the framework of a project led by UNODC, Interpol Sub-Regional Bureau and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization.

Thank you!