Human trafficking "significant", but US commends government for efforts

The United States has commended the Tanzanian government for its efforts to tackle human trafficking, but warned that the extent of the problem was just beginning to be established and that experts believed the number of victims in the country was "significant". Most at risk were children trafficked to work as domestic labourers in commercial agriculture, fishing, mining and prostitution, according to the US State Department's 2003 "Trafficking in Persons Report", released on 11 June. "This year, Tanzania has been designated a Tier 2 country, which means that the government is making some effort in the areas of prevention, protection, and prosecution, but much more needs to be done," Robert V. Royall, the US ambassador to Tanzania, said on Thursday. The new report ranked governments according to their efforts in tackling child labour. "Tier 1" countries were those that complied fully with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. "Tier 2" countries were those that made efforts to bring themselves into compliance, while "Tier 3" countries were those not deemed to have made sufficient efforts and, for the first time, could face economic sanctions. "The biggest obstacle to combating trafficking in Tanzania is not lack of will by the Tanzanian government, but lack of understanding of this crime by police, local authorities, and even parents who are lured by traffickers to send their children off to uncertain and dangerous destinies," Royall said. The Tanzanian government acknowledged that trafficking existed in the country, but highlighted that it was "complicated and not quantifiable" as no research had been carried out in the area. "Child trafficking is attached to traditional practices where some low-income parents can entrust a child to a wealthier relative to care for him or her as one of his/her own," Wilson Ngowi, the acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour Youth Development and Sports, said. "Some people take advantage of this traditional practice to recruit children, promising them a chance of employment or education, but instead place the child in a situation where he or she is exploited and or abused," he added. Once such child is Elizabeth Joseph, 17, who was marking the 2003 World Day Against Child Labour in the Tanzanian commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. "At the age of six, I was disowned by my father and left to try and survive with my mother in her village," she told IRIN. "My mother was married to another man, but life was difficult, I didn't go to school and there was nothing to do. Then a woman came and took me away, saying that I would be able to make a life for myself and earn a living." "She took me from Iringa and we travelled to Dar es Salaam with another girl my age. As soon as we got to town, she sold us to another woman. I don't know how much for. It was then that life became difficult," she said. Joseph said that her new "owner" made her cook, clean and perform sexual favours for male friends. Her recollection of how long the ordeal lasted was not clear. She escaped and worked as a prostitute before being picked up by the Kiota Women's Health and Development Organisation in Dar es Salaam. She recently found out that she was HIV positive, but said that at least now she can learn new skills and enjoy some of her childhood. The Tanzanian government, in partnership with bilateral partners such as the US, the International Labour Organisation and other institutions in the country, is tackling child labour through the promotion of universal primary education and the "Time Bound Programme" for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. However, the US report suggested that the government "should provide more training to law enforcement on trafficking issues, develop child-friendly witness protection mechanisms, and undertake more systematic public awareness campaigns".