The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has recorded 52 cases of trafficking in persons during the 2020/2021 financial year, compared to 48 cases the preceding year.

These figures were revealed in a speech read on behalf of NamPol Inspector-General, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga here on Thursday, during the commemoration of the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons, held under the theme; ‘Victim’s voice leads the way.’

Ndeitunga said the statistic may not necessarily be reflective of the entire reality of the prevalence of human trafficking on the ground due to the fact that such crime has some elements of concealed crimes.

“Despite the fact that the number of reported and detected cases of human trafficking is not on a drastic increase, it remains a matter of concern. To aggravate this concern is the fact that the mode of operation in which this crime is being committed makes it difficult to detect and to investigate,” he said.

Ndeitunga said law enforcement agencies acknowledge the challenges that they face in detecting human trafficking, noting that more needs to be done to detect human trafficking and have offenders prosecuted.

“Law enforcement is faced with challenges such as a lack of proper shelters for victims of trafficking, lack of resources to carry out awareness programmes and delay in obtaining evidence from other countries, among others,” said Ndeitunga.

Also speaking at the event ||Kharas Regional Council Chairperson, Joseph Isaacks, said the government, the private sector and the business community are duty-bound to seriously attend to the needs of the society to detect and counter the social evils and criminal inclinations that encroach the communities.

The chairperson said that the community is obligated by virtue of the constitution to join hands and uphold the mandatory provision for the safety of the Namibian child, adding that gender-based violence, poverty, hunger, unemployment, homelessness are some of the breeding grounds that afford potential opportunities for traffickers to lure vulnerable women and children.

“The community needs to participate in the fight against human trafficking. We need to report cases of human trafficking to the authorities. We are partners in this war. We have to stand up and we need to protect each other,” he said.

Source: Namibia press Agency