The realization that human trafficking is a serious local
security issue is prompting “Members of Parliament (MPs)” in Malawi to meet and discuss the Trafficking in Persons Bill on the table. Although it has taken
seven years, from start to finish, the bill is now ready to move beyond
development and into play. For a country that is one of the only sub-Saharan
countries to be without a human trafficking law and at the same time, is considered a source and transit country as well, this is a significant move.
For me, the value of a human life is priceless. Not only is
human trafficking unjust, it is also a health and safety issue. The loss of
life, the spread of diseases, and the instability of people in relation
to human trafficking are unnecessary and preventable. I am thankful for the advocates of the Malawi people who are pushing forth this bill to increase
penalties to offenders of human trafficking.
However, it is not only a
matter of creating laws and raising awareness, but also of enforcing these
laws. With the appropriate penalties in place, prosecutors would have the
necessary backing to enforce the laws. The Executive Director of the organization, The Eye of the
Child, Malawi Maxwell Matewere, states that Malawi needs to “invest in young
people and come up with means to reduce poverty, corruption and unemployment
which has led to increasing acts of human trafficking”. Gender Justice
Coordinator, Habiba Osman, said “the law will also give a chance to victims to
seek help from the fund allocated for human trafficking programmes as a way of
combating human trafficking”.
All of these are positive strides that Malawi is
taking to ensure that another generation of the Malawi people do not fall
victim to the perpetuating cycle of harm that human trafficking brings to
society.
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