Shikongo blames human trafficking failures on ‘lack of coordination’
Lack of governmental awareness on efforts to fight human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants is a massive stumbling block.
This according to Namibian Police Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo, who was speaking during the launch of a three-day training workshop yesterday.
The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, the European Union and the Namibian Police hosted the workshop for 33 law enforcement officers in Windhoek.
The training is not just an academic endeavour, but was hosted as trafficking is "a pressing global challenge that demands collective attention, empathy and action", Shikongo said.
Meanwhile, he blamed Namibia's current inability to effectively combat trafficking on a lack of coordination between stakeholders.
He listed lack of legislation implementation by relevant stakeholders and co-ordination in terms of identification, protection and referral of trafficking victims as more challenges plaguing Namibia.
Root causes
The training aims to "deepen the understanding of the root causes, methods and consequences of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants", he said.
"You will also explore the legal frameworks, the roles of law enforcement and civil society, and the importance of international cooperation.”
Shikongo revealed that since 2010, the Namibian Police has recorded and investigated 102 human trafficking cases, of which 27 are currently on the court roll.
"It is evident that Namibia is a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in persons."
An increase in cases has been fuelled by “perpetrators in urban areas who promise minor children from rural areas better education and employment opportunities, among other factors”, he said.
According to Shikongo, previously cross-border trafficking cases that involved Namibians were mostly linked to the employment of undocumented adults and children, predominantly from neighbouring countries such as Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Don't meet requirements
The police chief added that although Namibia ranked highly for meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons in 2020, the United States Report on Trafficking for 2023 indicated that the country now no longer meets these standards.
"As part of our efforts to address the scourge of trafficking, the government of Namibia has made commendable strides to protect the rights of victims through legal instruments such as the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, which criminalises the smuggling of migrants," he said.
This according to Namibian Police Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo, who was speaking during the launch of a three-day training workshop yesterday.
The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, the European Union and the Namibian Police hosted the workshop for 33 law enforcement officers in Windhoek.
The training is not just an academic endeavour, but was hosted as trafficking is "a pressing global challenge that demands collective attention, empathy and action", Shikongo said.
Meanwhile, he blamed Namibia's current inability to effectively combat trafficking on a lack of coordination between stakeholders.
He listed lack of legislation implementation by relevant stakeholders and co-ordination in terms of identification, protection and referral of trafficking victims as more challenges plaguing Namibia.
Root causes
The training aims to "deepen the understanding of the root causes, methods and consequences of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants", he said.
"You will also explore the legal frameworks, the roles of law enforcement and civil society, and the importance of international cooperation.”
Shikongo revealed that since 2010, the Namibian Police has recorded and investigated 102 human trafficking cases, of which 27 are currently on the court roll.
"It is evident that Namibia is a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in persons."
An increase in cases has been fuelled by “perpetrators in urban areas who promise minor children from rural areas better education and employment opportunities, among other factors”, he said.
According to Shikongo, previously cross-border trafficking cases that involved Namibians were mostly linked to the employment of undocumented adults and children, predominantly from neighbouring countries such as Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Don't meet requirements
The police chief added that although Namibia ranked highly for meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons in 2020, the United States Report on Trafficking for 2023 indicated that the country now no longer meets these standards.
"As part of our efforts to address the scourge of trafficking, the government of Namibia has made commendable strides to protect the rights of victims through legal instruments such as the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, which criminalises the smuggling of migrants," he said.
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