Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has emphasised that trafficking in persons has become a significant global issue, resembling modern-day slavery across the world.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said this during the commemoration of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons at Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region.
The day was commemorated under the theme "Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind."
According to the 2022 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime global report on trafficking in persons, approximately 450,000 victims and 300,000 potential perpetrators of trafficking in persons were detected globally between 2003 and 2021.
Factors contributing to the escalation of trafficking in persons include global disasters, armed conflicts, socioeconomic inequalities, climate change, unemployment, poverty, and the displacement of people.
"Despite the presence of this legal framework, Namibian people remain at risk of trafficking, particularly those who live in poverty, are unemployed, have limited access to education, are experiencing violence or abuse, and are from marginalised communities. In fact, women, girls, and children are mostly at risk and are trafficked for forced labour and sex work."
According to the 2022 USA annual report on trafficking in persons, Namibia is identified as a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in persons and other transnational organised crimes.
"Young Namibians are often recruited from Namibia through agents of advertisements in printed and social media to different countries for the purpose of forced labour and sexual exploitation."
Speaking at the same event, Prosecutor General Advocate Martha Imalwa stated that the first case of trafficking in persons was successfully prosecuted in 2015. Eight members of a trafficking ring have been convicted and are serving their prison terms.
"Since the first case of trafficking in person was prosecuted, our coordinated efforts have seen the number of trafficking in person cases that are detected and properly investigated improve tremendously. Currently, we have 29 cases with accused persons pending before the courts."