The law on human trafficking
ARTICLE three of the U N Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons defines trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, harbouring or receipt of persons by threatening, force, or coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or o
ARTICLE three of the U N Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons defines trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, harbouring or receipt of persons by threatening, force, or coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the receiving and giving of paymen to a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
The International Organisation for Migration says as many as 800,000 people may be trafficked across international borders annually, with many more trafficked within the boarders of their own countries.
Trafficking in Uganda involves the movement of people particularly women and girls from rural to urban areas in search of better opportunities within the country (internal trafficking) and from Uganda to other countries (cross-border trafficking).
According to the Government of Uganda and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) study, Uganda experiences more internal trafficking than cross border.
Trafficked victims from Uganda say they are usually taken to Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and the DR Congo while others go to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Europe and USA.
Businessmen and women, relatives, religious groups and NGOs, the victims say, organise cross border trafficking.
Uganda acts as a source, transit and destination for cross border trafficking.
It is estimated that 1.2 million children are victims of this deadly practice.
A 2005 US report on human trafficking estimates that of the 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year, about 80% are women and girls.
While data on the practice in Uganda is largely insufficient, studies indicate that trafficking of persons particularly women and girls is rampant in Uganda.
The victims are exploited for sexual purposes such as prostitution or pornography or for labour with little or no compensation in homes, farms or factories.
A 2006 study by African Child Policy Forum on 500 young females established that 51 girls between 14-17 years had been trafficked for sexual purposes.
A joint study on trafficking of human persons in Uganda by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and UNFPA notes that most traffickers use people close to their victims.
Field surveys from the study show that traffickers promise employment, marriage , better life and accommodation.
All this has played into the hands of a weak legislation and absence of deterrent penalties against this crime which many critics believe has only fuelled the problem. Compiled by Stephen Ssenkaaba
The International Organisation for Migration says as many as 800,000 people may be trafficked across international borders annually, with many more trafficked within the boarders of their own countries.
Trafficking in Uganda involves the movement of people particularly women and girls from rural to urban areas in search of better opportunities within the country (internal trafficking) and from Uganda to other countries (cross-border trafficking).
According to the Government of Uganda and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) study, Uganda experiences more internal trafficking than cross border.
Trafficked victims from Uganda say they are usually taken to Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and the DR Congo while others go to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Europe and USA.
Businessmen and women, relatives, religious groups and NGOs, the victims say, organise cross border trafficking.
Uganda acts as a source, transit and destination for cross border trafficking.
It is estimated that 1.2 million children are victims of this deadly practice.
A 2005 US report on human trafficking estimates that of the 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year, about 80% are women and girls.
While data on the practice in Uganda is largely insufficient, studies indicate that trafficking of persons particularly women and girls is rampant in Uganda.
The victims are exploited for sexual purposes such as prostitution or pornography or for labour with little or no compensation in homes, farms or factories.
A 2006 study by African Child Policy Forum on 500 young females established that 51 girls between 14-17 years had been trafficked for sexual purposes.
A joint study on trafficking of human persons in Uganda by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and UNFPA notes that most traffickers use people close to their victims.
Field surveys from the study show that traffickers promise employment, marriage , better life and accommodation.
All this has played into the hands of a weak legislation and absence of deterrent penalties against this crime which many critics believe has only fuelled the problem. Compiled by Stephen Ssenkaaba