By KT Reporters
1,037 victims of human trafficking have been identified and rescued in Uganda in ten months, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo.
Speaking at the officiating of the second National Workshop on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Investigating and Prosecuting Cases of Trafficking in Persons (TiP) in Kampala, Abodo explained that human trafficking is a silent global pandemic that affects people in various ways, often perpetrated by individuals known to the victims.
She noted that last year alone, 1,260 victims were identified and rescued adding that by the end of this year, numbers are likely to increase highly.
The DPP called for a multisectoral effort, emphasizing the need for a sophisticated and coordinated response. She highlighted the importance of involving the Financial Intelligence Authority and adopting a victim-centred and trauma-informed approach.
The two-day workshop which started on Tuesday features collaborative activities to assess the SOPs’ implementation which were launched in February 2024, identify challenges, and discuss practical tools like the Trafficking in Persons -TIP Map supported by the Human Trafficking Institute and monitoring systems such as the SOPs Checklist to be followed by the law enforcement practitioners on conducting trafficking cases and Prosecutions and how to cooperate in this process and its digitalised platform.
The workshop has also brought together law enforcement, prosecutors, labour inspectors, and civil society organizations to strengthen the implementation of the SOPs and foster collaboration in addressing trafficking in persons.
They are also expected to discuss trafficking trends and anti-trafficking responses by leaders from the office of the DPP, Uganda Police Force and partner agencies and interactive sessions on crime scene forensics, financial investigations, and the role of labour inspections in combating human trafficking.
Abodo encouraged law enforcement agencies to ensure that there is proper Communication, Coordination and Cooperation, and timely and accurate data.
She expressed her appreciation for the SOPs which provide a clear framework for investigating trafficking cases adding that the people supposed to prosecute and investigate should put them to good use rather than keeping them in documents only.
The DPP further called for collective efforts saying everyone has a role to play in fighting trafficking in persons (TIPs) and making life difficult for criminals.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Representative, Solomon Watsia, acknowledged that developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) was a challenging task. He expressed gratitude for the human and financial resources that facilitated the printing and dissemination of the materials.
Watsia pledged ongoing support from UNODC to reduce crime, emphasizing the need for a legally sound approach to investigations and prosecution to build synergy.
Annet Karungi, Superintendent of Police and Acting Head of the Trafficking in Person and Sexual and Gender Violence Department noted that proper implementation of the SOPs would simplify judges’ work and increase convictions.
Most of the shocking stories of trafficking victims the country has had recently include stories of job seekers in Arab countries although some domestic cases have also been recorded. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
