Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is strengthening its legislative and institutional framework to combat human trafficking, with the Government moving to align domestic laws with international standards while enhancing protection mechanisms for victims.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Vimbai Nyemba, said this during an interactive dialogue with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons at the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.
Mrs Nyemba said Zimbabwe welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s report and remained committed to addressing human trafficking, particularly among vulnerable groups such as stateless and displaced children.
“Stateless and displaced children are prime targets for human trafficking. Without recognised legal identities and parental protections, they are easily excluded from institutional support systems,” she said.
Mrs Nyemba said the Government had adopted a multi-pronged approach to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute offenders in line with national, regional and international obligations.
She said Zimbabwe was in the process of amending the Trafficking in Persons Act to align it with the Palermo Protocol, a key international instrument for combating trafficking in persons.
“We are amending the Trafficking in Persons Act to align with the Palermo Protocol, reinforcing victim protection and cross-border cooperation,” she said.
Mrs Nyemba said authorities had intensified investigations and prosecutions of trafficking-related offences, including cases involving official complicity, while building the capacity of frontline officers to identify and assist victims.
“We have intensified investigations and prosecutions, including cases of official complicity, and trained police, immigration and other officials on victim identification,” she said.
She said Government had also established standard operating procedures and a National Referral Mechanism to facilitate the identification, referral, repatriation and reintegration of victims of trafficking.
Mrs Nyemba said awareness campaigns, media training programmes and child-sensitive justice mechanisms were being implemented to strengthen prevention efforts and ensure greater protection for vulnerable groups.
“Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to zero tolerance towards trafficking,” she said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa