Thank you Amhatsion for forwarding this nicely written article by Ray J.A. It is a very good read and very informative.
Again thank you,
Haile A.
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Eritrea: The Fight
against Human Trafficking
By: Ray J. A. - June 19, 2013
Running rampant in
the backstreet brothels of Southeast Asia, occurring in abundance across
(in)famous red-light districts throughout continental Europe, readily existing
within the Americas, and especially prevalent across Africa, human trafficking
constitutes a truly global issue. Not only is the human trafficking phenomenon
a direct assault on human dignity, it is now categorized as a violation of
human rights and is illegal in many countries. Annually, it is believed that between
hundreds of thousands and several million individuals (typically women and children) are lured,
kidnapped, or forced into sexual slavery, labor exploitation, or organ theft.[i]
Notably, in recent
years, the Horn of Africa region has experienced a spike in trafficking (in
various guises), with Somalis[ii], Ethiopians[iii], and Sudanese[iv] all being affected. Eritrea,
which borders the aforementioned countries, has also been affected, although in
a far more peculiar nature. Specifically, the small country has been the victim
of external organized criminal trafficking rings, which have targeted Eritrean
youths. There are numerous harrowing accounts of Eritreans suffering unfathomable
levels of criminality, depravity, and exploitation at the hands of organized
criminal trafficking rings.
Much of the
trafficking phenomenon in regards to Eritrea has been both fomented and
enmeshed within a shadowy external political agenda, seeking to destabilize the
country, with traffickers using vicious propaganda to target Eritrea in a
malicious and unlawful campaign. In essence, traffickers and organized groups
have sought to weaken the Eritrea human capital, its armed forces, and its
defensive capabilities by robbing it of its skilled and educated youth. This
notion is supported by the fact that some countries have a policy that grants
political asylum to any Eritrean who deserts the army, right in nearby Sudan or
Ethiopia, far before applicants even reach their final location for granted
asylum. Moreover, consider that in 2007, the UNHCR acknowledged (although via
passing mention) that "some members of the United Nations peacekeeping mission
to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) were involved in human trafficking."[v] Recognizing that its
people are its greatest asset, Eritrea has maintained a dedication to
anti-trafficking, employing a multifaceted approach to eradicate the problem.
In June of 2007, Eritrean representatives attended a conference
in Uganda[vi],
jointly organized by the UNODC's Regional Office for Eastern Africa and the
Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization through the
International Criminal Police Organization's sub-regional office. The
conference brought together representatives from 11 total countries, with the
aim of raising awareness, strengthening preventative measures, seeking to
reduce demand factors, and coordinating more effective support and protection
mechanisms for victims.
In December of 2008, according to a Wikileaks cable entitled How To Escape From Eritrea, Charge
d'Affaires, Matthew D. Smith, confessed that "the GSE [Government of the State
of Eritrea] is very keen to break these human smuggling rings and dispatches
agents to pose as potential customers. Other agents pose as facilitators,
making all of the supposed smuggling arrangements prior to having the
unsuspecting person arrested."[vii] In July of 2011, Eritrean President,
Isaias Afwerki met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the sidelines of
South Sudan's independence celebrations to discuss human trafficking (amongst
several other issues).[viii]
That meeting was subsequently followed by a formal letter, in February of 2012,
from President Isaias to Ban Ki Moon, calling for an open, impartial, and transparent
investigation into human trafficking within Eritrea and the greater Horn of
Africa region.[ix]
In
recognition of the broader nature of the human trafficking phenomenon, Eritrea
has also sought regional and international cooperation. April of 2013 saw Eritrea
participate in tripartite meetings with regional neighbors Egypt and Sudan to
discuss ways of curbing human trafficking and ensuring the safety of their
respective citizens.[x] As
one clear outcome of these meetings, several weeks later Egypt sent troops to
the lawless Sinai region in a show of force against traffickers and kidnappers.[xi]
Most
recently, in May of 2013, Eritrea sent a high level delegation to the UN
General Assembly's High-Level Meeting
on the Appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking. In his
statement during the meeting, Eritrea's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Osman
Saleh, reiterated Eritrea's long and strong commitment to fighting human
trafficking and recounted several of the concrete methods undertaken to combat
trafficking.
With
human trafficking being a complex, multi-factor issue, Eritrea's approach to
combatting trafficking has involved a variety of strategies and procedures. In
order to create awareness, Saleh noted that Eritrea has instigated
comprehensive educational campaigns. In order to support victims, it was
mentioned that Eritrea has provided assistance through diplomatic missions and
communities in destination countries. Finally, illustrating little tolerance
for traffickers, the Minister stated that Eritrean enforcement agencies and
local communities have sought to identify and apprehend traffickers.[xii]
Human
trafficking is an
issue that continues to affect many people throughout the world. Trafficking's
underlying links to the lack of peace, global and
regional instabilities, socio-economic inequalities, and underdevelopment mean
that no single solution will suffice. In regards to Eritrea, undoubtedly, much
more can and should be done on the part of the government, Eritrean citizens globally,
and the international community. However, it is also important and pragmatic to
recognize Eritrea's past anti-trafficking efforts in order to provide
strengthened and more effective strategies moving forward.