Human rights activist wants law to protect house-girls

Aug 01, 2017

She argued that most house girls were working under undesirable conditions, which increased their vulnerability and also exposed them to human traffickers.

The Executive Director of Facilitation for Peace and Development, Eunice Apio Otuko, has requested government to put in place a law that ensures the safety and welfare of house-girls.

She argued that most house girls were working under undesirable conditions, which increased their vulnerability and also exposed them to human traffickers.

 he ommissioner of olice in charge of human trafficking prevention at the inistry of nternal ffairs oses inoga delivers his speech The Commissioner of Police in charge of human trafficking prevention at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Moses Binoga delivers his speech

 
 "The household economy is even bigger than the Boda Boda economy. Thousands of children work in private homes where they are exposed to human trafficking. We need a law to protect them."

Apio made the remarks during the launching of her book, Zura Maids, at the Uganda Museum on Friday.

Apio later asked government to amend the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (2009), arguing that it had many loopholes that made it ineffective. According to Apio, the Act does not address the problem of the recruitment agencies, who are major players in the trafficking of people. Apio also expressed concern that the few individuals that have been convicted of human trafficking offences have been given light penalties, that range from sh200,000 to sh800,000.

The minister in charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mary Karooro Okurut, who launched the book, commended Apio for her zeal and commitment to highlighting the issues of vulnerable people.

 member of the audience participates in a discussion during the launching of pios bookA member of the audience participates in a discussion during the launching of Apio's book

 
Moses Binoga, the Commissioner of Police Coordinating the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, encouraged Ugandans to work with government to end human trafficking.

The function was also graced by the executive director of Uganda Women Writers Association (Femrite), Hilda Twongyeirwe.

Apio's newly launched novel, Zura Maids, explores the experiences of victims of human trafficking, using fictional characters. It entertains the reader as it also tickles them to come up with effective solutions to the problem.

 unice pio right answers a question during the launching of her book at the ganda useum on riday Eunice Apio (right) answers a question during the launching of her book at the Uganda Museum on Friday

 

  crosssection of the people who attended the launching of pios book A cross-section of the people who attended the launching of Apio's book

 

 

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