Vukarhani Trust proposes benchmarks to evaluate Zimbabwe’s anti-trafficking efforts

Staff Reporter

In a bid to enhance the effectiveness of Zimbabwe’s anti-trafficking initiatives, the Vukarhani Trust, a prominent civic society organization, has proposed a set of benchmarks that can be used to assess the progress made in combating human trafficking within the country. The organization believes that these benchmarks will assist the government in evaluating its efforts and taking necessary actions to further strengthen its fight against this heinous crime.

Human trafficking remains a pressing issue in Zimbabwe, with reports of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking continuing to emerge. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive evaluation system, the Vukarhani Trust has stepped forward to provide a framework that will enable the government to monitor and measure the effectiveness of its anti-trafficking initiatives.

The proposed benchmarks encompass various aspects of anti-trafficking efforts, including prevention, prosecution, protection, and partnership. By establishing clear indicators and targets within each of these areas, the Vukarhani Trust aims to create a standardized evaluation system that can be used to assess the government’s progress over time.

In terms of prosecution, the proposed benchmarks emphasise the need for effective legislation, law enforcement capacity, and successful convictions. By monitoring the number of prosecutions, convictions, and the severity of penalties imposed on traffickers, the government can gauge the strength of its legal framework and its ability to bring perpetrators to justice.

“…number of cases detected and investigated; his benchmark measures the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts in identifying trafficking cases and initiating investigations. This culminates into number two the number of prosecutions and convictions because this evaluates the success of the prosecution effort in bringing traffickers to justice,” remarked Gerald Shirishena, Director of the Vukarhani Trust.

The protection benchmarks highlight the importance of victim identification, support services, and the provision of safe shelters. Evaluating the government’s efforts in these areas will shed light on its commitment to safeguarding victims and providing them with the necessary assistance to rebuild their lives.

“Victim identification and support; this benchmark assesses the government’s ability to identify and provide services to victims such as shelter counseling, legal care, and health care. Number four prevention measures; this forecast is on evaluating preventive actions taken by the government such as awareness campaigns education programs and policy interventions aimed at reducing vulnerability to trafficking,” added Shirichena.

The partnership benchmark encourages collaboration between agencies, civil society organisations, and international bodies. By assessing the level of cooperation and coordination among these stakeholders, the government can identify areas of improvement and strengthen its overall response to human trafficking.

“International corporation measures the collaboration between government in combating transnational cooperation networks through information sharing, mutual legal assistance and joint operation. To ensure accountability it is crucial for the public to have the mechanism to hold the government responsible for its actions or lack of let thereof some of the things I am discussing here, are how they can be achieved.

“Civil Society engagement; this encourages active involvement of civil society working on anti-trafficking issues in assessing governmental efforts. They can raise awareness about shortcomings or gaps in policies while advocating for improved measures. Another crucial one involves whistle-blower protection; there is a need to ensure protection for individuals who come forward with information related to trafficking cases or irregularities within government institutions involved in anti-trafficking work.

Furthermore, Shirichena also highlighted the importance of awareness campaigns about human trafficking among the citizens. He also stated that there is a need for the government to provide detailed reports about anti-trafficking initiatives for the public.

“Transparent reporting, this is critical and it has to be. The government should regularly publish detailed reports of anti-trafficking initiatives Including Information on progress made against each benchmark.  These reports should be easily accessible to the public. Independent monitoring bodies, establish independent bodies or commissions responsible for monitoring anti-trafficking efforts that can provide oversight into progress made by the government and offer recommendations for improvements.

“Public awareness campaigns promote public awareness about human trafficking and encourage citizens to report cases while monitoring government activities and demand accountability. Lastly is the judicial review which should be independent. The judiciary should remain independent and accessible for individuals or organization to challenge any failures or inadequacies in anti-trafficking efforts. By implementing these measures the public can play an active role in holding the government accountable for its progress in combating human trafficking.

The Vukarhani Trust’s proposed benchmarks have garnered widespread support from various stakeholders, including other NGOs, and human rights activists. They believe that these benchmarks will not only provide a clear roadmap for the government but also enhance transparency and accountability in the fight against human trafficking.

Clare Karimanzira, a monitoring and evaluation specialist in the civic society sector commended the work that is being done by the Vukarhani Trust in spearheading the fight against human trafficking. She also said collaboration is key in this endeavor.

“…the proposed benchmarks are a step in the right direction as we fight against the scourge of human trafficking. It is important to have a comprehensive framework that allows us to assess the effectiveness of our efforts and identify areas that require improvement. We appreciate Vukarhani’s efforts in combating human trafficking, and we hope that the government will use such a benchmark and integrate it into the existing anti-trafficking strategies. The collaboration between civil society and the government is important to make sure that there is a coordinated and impactful response to human trafficking,” she said.

Social commentator Albert Chitemese stated that while the benchmarks are commendable there is a need for the government to provide adequate resources while providing monitoring services in order to combat human trafficking.

“The Vukarhani Trust’s proposal on the benchmarks for evaluating Zimbabwe’s anti-trafficking efforts is a commendable move. Evaluating the effectiveness of our strategies is crucial in addressing human trafficking. However, it is essential to ensure that these benchmarks are comprehensive, encompassing various aspects of prevention, prosecution, victim support, and international cooperation. Additionally, the government must allocate adequate resources and establish a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure the implementation of these benchmarks. Only through a holistic approach can we hope to make significant progress in combating human trafficking in Zimbabwe,” he said.

As Zimbabwe continues its battle against human trafficking, the government’s adoption of these benchmarks will be crucial in evaluating the progress made and identifying areas that require further attention. By actively monitoring and assessing its anti-trafficking initiatives, Zimbabwe can demonstrate its commitment to eradicating this crime and protecting the rights and dignity of its citizens.