Stepping up efforts to address trafficking in persons |20 May 2015

Seychelles has taken another step in its fervent efforts to effectively address trafficking in persons by validating the assistance tool for victims of trafficking.
Home Affairs Minister Charles Bastienne opened the two-day validation workshop held at the AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa on Monday and this followed a national consultation held in November 2014, whereby the groundwork was laid for the victim assistance tool.

“For the government of Seychelles, trafficking in persons is unacceptable in every sense of the word. As a country which is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, we are constantly striving for improvement, and the work of the participants will be moving us in the right direction,” he said.

The minister also said trafficking in persons is a challenge demanding a holistic response with strong partnerships and the commitment and engagement of all sectors. He said he hopes the victim assistance tool, which is comprises three components – a standard operating procedures’ manual, a referral mechanism, and a victim Identification tool – will go a long way in achieving this.

Minister Bastienne also urged all to give the validating documents the seriousness and great attention it deserves as they are practical tools that will allow frontline officers to identify, refer and attend to victims of trafficking in persons.

The workshop was organised by the Seychelles government in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organisation for Migration. The document will be submitted to cabinet after validation.

Also present were the principal secretary of the Social Affairs Linda William-Melanie who is also the chairperson of the National Coordinating Committee on Trafficking in Persons, Samantha Mundeta, regional legal advisor – Trafficking in Persons of the UNODC office, Erna Athanasius, Ambassador for women’s and Children’s affairs and other distinguished guests and stakeholders.

Minister Bastienne described trafficking in persons as a heinous crime that affects millions of people across the world. He said it is a scourge that permeates indiscriminately through borders, all ages, genders and nationalities; an evil that leaves a trail of victims who have been reduced to commodities to be sold for profit. Alongside illicit drugs and arms trafficking, the exploitation and trade of human beings is one of the most lucrative and grotesque industries of our world.

“It is a crime that is often thought of as foreign, as something that does not affect our home here in Seychelles. In an increasingly interconnected and globalised world, Seychelles does not remain isolated to the world’s problems. With our permeable shores, high influx of tourists, and significant migrant population, we must not underestimate the risk and potential for this crime to fester in our country, as a source, transit or destination for victims of human trafficking. As the saying goes ‘the best defence is a good offence’,” said Minister Bastienne who added that it was in this view that the government of Seychelles put in place the Prohibition against Trafficking in Persons Act in 2014.

He said while addressing the criminal nature of trafficking in person and making provisions for the prosecution of its perpetrators, the legislation also protects victims of trafficking in persons.
The National Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons was launched last year followed by a media campaign for the general public on the issue.

“We ask the people of Seychelles to open their eyes, ‘ouver ou lizye’, to a crime that takes place in the shadows,” said Minister Bastienne.

After explaining the meaning of trafficking in person, which she said is anything that could threaten, coerce or abduct fraudulently and harming somebody through the process of either labour, sexual exploitation or other forms like removal of human organs, Mrs William-Melanie said even if there has been allegations and suspected cases of trafficking in persons, no formal report has been made to the police, the body that has to investigate such report.

“But we recognise there is a need to put in place an effective framework to address this issue and to ensure that we punish perpetrators and protect victims of trafficking,” she said.
In her presentation, Ms Mundeta said the UNODC department spent the better part of 2013-2014 creating a legal framework and basis for the Seychelles dimension when it comes to trafficking in persons.

She said it is a simple and easily understood document which is aimed at preventing, suppressing and punishing trafficking in persons, especially to women and children.

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