The European Commission has
contributed EUR 2 million to IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF to support a programme to
combat human trafficking and exploitation among some 10,000 child migrants and
asylum seekers in Zambia.
The three-year programme builds on the
existing efforts of the government of Zambia and UN agencies to address
vulnerability and increase protection for children and other persons of concern
at high risk of trafficking and exploitation because of their migration status.
“Exploitation of migrants and victims
of trafficking is a grave violation of fundamental human rights.
Measures have to be taken to combat the scourge of trafficking, including
ensuring greater protection for migrants, speeding up prosecution of the
perpetrators and supporting longer term prevention activities,” said Kanni
Wignaraja, the UN Resident Coordinator in Zambia, during the launch of the
project in Lusaka.
IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF will focus on
increasing protection of children and persons of concern by supporting the
Zambian government’s capacity to compile and process data on irregular
migrants, as well as strengthening procedures for the assessment and referral
of vulnerable children and other persons of concern.
The three agencies will also support
government efforts to raise awareness among the host communities and will work
to enhance regional and cross-border collaboration on mixed migration
challenges.
The project is expected to review
relevant laws and make recommendations to promote the domestication of Zambia’s
obligations under international and regional legal instruments related to
vulnerable children, migration, asylum seeking and human trafficking.
IOM
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