Don't join any of these group ISIS, Al Qaida, Al Shabab and Boko haram these are human traffickers

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Police criticised for not fighting child prostitution

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By Moses Bikala
Added 4th July 2016 11:43 AM

Majority of the sex workers are at risk of contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS virus
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Moses Bikala
The rising number of child prostitutes operating on the streets of Bugiri has been blamed on the reluctance of police to take action against men found to be buying them.
Currently there are over 600 child prostitutes operating in the busy trading centres of Naluwerere, Busowa and Idudi.

The Bugiri Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)  George William Omuge while speaking during the belated World  Day against Child Labour held at Hindocha Primary School playground on Sunday said majority of the child prostitutes are lured into the vice by their peers with a hope of earning huge sums of money from peddling sex to long distance truckers.

He said police has failed to take action against men who frequently buy the child prostitutes yet its illegal.
Omuge said majority of the sex workers are at risk of contracting the deadly HIV/AIDS virus because they normally engage in risky sexual behaviours like having unprotected sex with the truckers.
He said there have been reports of children below the age of 18 being employed to work as casual labourers in gold mines at Bude and involvement in selling of roasted maize and pancakes in busy trading centres.
Omuge said employing minors is an offense punishable by courts of law and cautioned people against it to avoid the repercussions.
The deputy country director World Education, Elton Babu said the organization is compiling a report about the number of child prostitutes operating in the district as a way of seeking a solution to the problem.
He said some of the children are lured to join the illicit business by their parents with a hope of supplementing their house hold income.
The labour officer Bugiri, Isaac Mweru said they have on several occasions tried to sensitize parents about the dangers of encouraging their children join the illicit business of prostitution in vain.

Disabled Czechs get new lease on sex life

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By AFP
Added 5th February 2016 08:51 AM

Sexual assistants meet carnal needs, but they are also trained to help the handicapped discover and manage their sexuality.
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Tomas Pik has lost nothing of his lust for life despite the crippling disease that confined him to a wheelchair five years ago as the nerves in his limbs withered.

The 26-year-old Czech has relied on prostitutes to meet sexual needs, but says many refuse after they learn he has the rare neurological disease Friedreich's ataxia, the symptoms of which he first experienced a decade ago.

"Being handicapped, you don't have much self-confidence, and when a prostitute turns you down, it's quite the blow," he told AFP in the Czech capital Prague.

Now there is a new paid service on offer for the country's disabled, one without the risk of rejection.

Sexual assistants meet carnal needs, but they are also trained to help the handicapped discover and manage their sexuality.

The EU member of 10.5 million people is the first ex-communist country where the service is on offer, following nations such as the Netherlands, an early pioneer in the practice, Denmark, France, Germany and Switzerland.

It took about two years to get the service up and running using know-how provided by Swiss partners, according to Lucie Sidova, head of the Rozkos bez rizika (Risk-free Pleasure) organisation helping women in the sex industry.

Sidova told AFP that like prostitution, the service is not a crime under Czech law.

Pik, a bespectacled second-hand charity shop worker, runs a Facebook page promoting sexual assistance and never misses an opportunity to spread the word.

Sipping coffee from a cup he has trouble holding, Pik explains that specially trained sex assistants are not out to retain clients, but to ultimately help them find a lover of their own.

Hugs, kisses, nudity

"The task of a sexual assistant is to teach the disabled how to engage with their sexuality and sex toys and the right way to masturbate because no one else will talk to them about that kind of thing," he said.

"The sexuality of disabled people is a big taboo here," added Pik, who has had one tantric massage from an assistant since the service got the go-ahead from authorities late last year.
ucie idova chief of the iskfree leasure organisation helping women working in the sex business speaking in rague  he zech epublic is the first excommunist country to allow sexual assistance to the handicapped iskfree leasure rganiation  
Lucie Sidova, chief of the Risk-free Pleasure organisation, helping women working in the sex business, speaking in Prague. The Czech Republic is the first ex-communist country to allow sexual assistance to the handicapped. (AFP/Risk-free Pleasure Organiation)

The range of services varies -- sexual assistants can go as far as intercourse with their clients, but some draw the line at massages and instruction.

"I don't offer penetration or even oral sex but only touches, tantric massages, hugs, kisses, nudity," says Iva, an assistant from a town northeast of Prague who calls herself a sex teacher.

"Some people with mental disabilities or complex handicaps can't even say what they want so I have to use pictures to find out."

Iva is one of five sexual assistants working with Risk-free Pleasure. They charge up to 1,200 koruna (45 euros, $50) per session.

"Many disabled people don't have a partner. They are, say, 35 years old, so I open the door to sexuality for them," says Iva.

She insists on only meeting a client a handful of times at most to prevent him from developing too close of a bond with her.

Risky business

"Disabled people are often full of pent-up sexual energy," she said, adding that some may be impulsive and aggressive at times.

"When they release that sexual energy, and it's the strongest energy you'll find in the body, their mood improves and they are easier to handle," Iva told AFP.

Although sexual assistance itself is not illegal, the Risk-free Pleasure NGO still walks a fine line as they can advertise the service but cannot themselves put assistants in touch with clients. That could carry charges of procurement, or pimping, which is a broadly defined crime under Czech law.

The service is still in its initial phase -- Iva said she only had two clients in January -- but Lucie Sidova is hoping to boost the current roster with additional assistants, including men, in the future.

She said they have already received one thank you letter from a man who used a sexual assistant.

"After many years of looking for a partner in vain, his self-confidence grew so much that he told us he wasn't coming to the next session, that he has a girlfriend now."

How a Ugandan was rescued from prostitution in Asia




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By Wilson Manishimwe
Added 24th October 2016 02:12 PM

On arrival at the airport in China, she was welcomed by certain woman.

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Prostitution remains widespread in many parts of the world. (AFP/Getty Images)

 
 
A Ugandan victim of human trafficking in Asia, Alicia Namutebi, has said that she was saved by "the grace of God".

The mother of three was taken to Thailand in 2002, spent about four months there and later returned to Uganda with the help of Ugandans who helped her renew her passport.

Speaking during a workshop organised by Platform for Labour Action (PLA) in Kampala, Namutebi said a certain man who found her selling shoes at Gazaland Complex in Kampala later convinced her that she would get a teaching job in Thailand.

“I didn’t have a passport, so he helped me to process for it in concerned offices. He then told me that I would pass through China."

On arrival at an airport in China, she was received by a certain woman, with whom they went to her home. Namutebi spent the following two weeks at the women's place.

“Later the woman told me that the only job that was available was prostitution. She then took me to a street where there were a lot of Ugandan girls involved in commercial sex.

“On coming back [from day one on the streets], I told the woman that there was nobody who bargained for me. The woman chased me and the only option was going to the street," she told her attentive audience.

On the street, Namutebi met a black woman married to a white man, who offered to take me to Thailand.

“I rejected but the woman said that there was no other option. Men could come, park their cars and we could scramble to pull them to buy us," she told of her desperation.

She told of how once she was 'bought' [her services] at $300 (about sh1m) that was given to "my boss" instead (the black woman).

But then, there was a twist of events.

“I told him to go and have his money refunded because I could not manage what he wanted. The man said 'sorry', he removed a Bible and gave it to me, and I spent the whole night reading."

The next day, the man took her to church where he showed her Ugandans.

“I narrated to them how I had been promised a job of teaching but later ended up in commercial sex. They took me to the Ugandan consulate in Bangkok, Thailand where my passport was renewed,” Namutebi told the workshop.

"These volunteers later mobilized for my return ticket to Uganda."

She arrived in Uganda in August 2002. “I have settled now. I am working for my children."

But unlike Namutebi, who got a lucky break out of prositution, many Ugandans, with untold stories, remain locked up in the claws of the practice abroad.

Meanwhile, PLA's rights and social protection manager, Joy Katoono, said research shows that the biggest percentage of human trafficked victims from Uganda were taken to Arabia, followed by Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar.

Other countries comprised of 14% of the victims.
Read more: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1438506/ugandan-rescued-prostitution-thailand?utm_source=www.Africa.com+TOP-10&utm_campaign=bce91688c6-Daily_News_Oct_2410_24_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_12683c81a6-bce91688c6-29182941

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Job ads for foreign maids in Asia, Middle East highlight poor pay - study

Reuters

By Beh Lih Yi
JAKARTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A survey of ads for jobs in Asia and the Middle East found that foreign domestic workers are paid most in Hong Kong, yet earn a fraction of what they would make if they worked in wealthier countries.Activists said the survey highlighted the need for action to tackle the low salaries of migrant domestic workers in the two regions and help stamp out exploitation.
Of the major countries employing migrant domestic workers in Asia and the Middle East, salaries are highest in Hong Kong, at $567 a month, according to the study by HelperChoice, a website that connects employers with domestic workers seeking jobs.
Domestic workers, mostly women from poorer South and Southeast Asian countries, often earn more than they could back home, but far below the monthly minimum wage domestic workers earn in countries such as Australia ($2,230) or France ($1,866), based on 40 hours of work per week, HelperChoice said.
"What the survey shows is how poorly paid domestic workers are in Asia and the Middle East," said Eman Villanueva, a spokesperson from the Hong Kong-based Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, an umbrella group representing foreign domestic helpers in the financial hub.
He said a foreign domestic worker's salary in the city – about $1 to $1.40 an hour based on 12 to 16 hours of work a day - is only a third of Hong Kong's minimum wage.
"If other countries in Asia and the Middle East are even lower, that's a really, really sad situation for domestic workers," Villanueva told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Activists said the findings highlight the poor treatment of maids in Asia and the Middle East, where nearly half of the world's 52 million domestic workers are employed, according to the International Labour Organization.
Families in Asia and the Middle East rely heavily on domestic workers to cook, clean and care for children as well as the elderly.
Hong Kong, which has more than 300,000 foreign domestic workers, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia, has set a minimum wage for these workers at $556 per month, but Villanueva said they have been pushing for a hike to at least $645 a month and better terms.
He said current employment regulations – similar across Asia and the Middle East - require a domestic worker to live with their employers without regulated working hours, encouraging abuse and exploitation.
"It creates a situation where a worker is working 24 hours non-stop. When the baby cries or when there is something to attend to, the employers can just knock on our door," said Villanueva, a Filipino who has been a domestic worker in Hong Kong for 25 years.
The average salary for a domestic worker is $439 in Singapore, $431 in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and $388 in Kuwait, according to the HelperChoice study.
By comparison, in Thailand, the average salary for foreign maids from neighbouring Myanmar is between $123 and $143, according to a survey by the MAP Foundation, a migrant rights group based in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
(Reporting by Beh Lih Yi @behlihyi, editing by Alisa Tang. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women’s rights, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories)

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Backpage.com raided, CEO arrested for sex-trafficking

starTribune
Variety 396232931

The raid in Dallas followed allegations that adult and child sex-trafficking victims had been forced into prostitution through ads on the adult classified ad portal. 
itemprop
Associated Press
This photo released by the Texas Office of the Attorney General shows Carl Ferrer. State agents have raided the Dallas headquarters of adult classified ad portal Backpage and arrested Chief Executive Officer Ferrer. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that adult and child sex-trafficking victims had been forced into prostitution through escort ads posted on the site.
DALLAS — State agents raided the Dallas headquarters of adult classified ad portal Backpage and arrested Chief Executive Officer Carl Ferrer on Thursday following allegations that adult and child sex-trafficking victims had been forced into prostitution through escort ads posted on the site.
Ferrer, 55, was arrested on a California warrant after arriving at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport on a flight from Amsterdam.
"Making money off the backs of innocent human beings by allowing them to be exploited for modern-day slavery is not acceptable in Texas," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in a statement.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris said that Ferrer was arrested on felony charges of pimping a minor, pimping, and conspiracy to commit pimping. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond and will face an extradition hearing before he can be returned to California.
"Raking in millions of dollars from the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable victims is outrageous, despicable and illegal," said Harris, a Democrat who is running for the U.S. Senate in next month's election. "Backpage and its executives purposefully and unlawfully designed Backpage to be the world's top online brothel."
An attorney representing Backpage, Liz McDougall, did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages left by The Associated Press.
The site's controlling shareholders, Michael Lacey, 68, and James Larkin, 67, have been charged with conspiracy to commit pimping, Harris said in a statement. Neither of them has been taken into custody by late Thursday although warrants have been issued for their arrest. Under California's law, felony pimping is defined as making money off of prostitutes or soliciting customers for prostitution.
Lacey and Larkin are former owners of the Village Voice and the Phoenix New Times. An attorney who previously represented the two men, Michael Manning, did not immediately respond to a telephone message from The AP.
Backpage advertises a wide range of services, but the California arrest warrant alleges that internal business records obtained through a search warrant show that 99 percent its revenue came from its adult services section between January 2013 and March 2015. California officials said the site collects fees from users who use coded language and nearly nude photos to offer sex for money.
Worldwide revenue from sex ads topped $3.1 million in just one week last year, according to a court affidavit. It says Ferrer expanded Backpage's share of online sex marketing by creating affiliated sites including EvilEmpire.com and BigCity.com with related content.
The site operates in hundreds of cities worldwide, authorities said, including more than 30 in California. It collected $2.5 million per month just from California, or more than $51 million during the 29 months covered by the internal revenue reports.
Larkin and Lacey each received $10 million bonuses from the website in September 2014, according to the court filing. It says Backpage was created in 2004, but since 2014 has been owned by a Netherlands-based company that has Ferrer as its only named partner.
California authorities said the state's three-year investigation found many of the ads include victims of sex trafficking including children under the age of 18.
One of the advertisers, identified only as 15-year-old "E.S.," ''was forced into prostitution at the age of 13 by her pimp," according to an affidavit filed with the complaint. She used other online advertising services until they were shut down, the court filing says, when she turned to Backpage.
"I mean really, coming from someone my age, there is too much access, like it's too easy for people to get on it and post an ad," she told California Special Agent Brian Fichtner, according to his affidavit.
California officials said their investigation was prompted in part by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which reported 2,900 instances to California authorities since 2012 when suspected child sex trafficking occurred using Backpage.
The criminal complaint includes allegations that five minors, three of them including "E.S." under age 16, paid to post advertisements on Backpage.
The charges against Ferrer could bring him nearly 22 years in prison, while Larkin and Lacey face a maximum six years.
Backpage has been the subject of recent Senate hearings into its classified ads. Last month, the Supreme Court refused to block a Senate subpoena seeking information on how Backpage screens ads for possible sex trafficking.
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, chairman and ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, issued a statement hailing the criminal charges resulting from what they called "the scourge of online sex trafficking."
They put the site's estimated annual revenues at more than $150 million, calling it "a market leader in commercial sex advertising."

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Qatari Princess Shaikha Salwa's Sexual Scandal With Seven Men: Financial Times Reports


(London, UK) -- Qatar a tiny Persian Gulf Peninsula albeit  vastly affluent  and notorious for supporting Al Qaeda-inspired terrorists in war-scarred Syria , has tarnished its already infamous reputation by causing an ignominious scandal involving  a female member of royal family.
In spite of the Qatari Royal Court (Diwan Amiri) desperately seeking to somehow vindicate this public disgrace ,paying no attention to this dishonorable sin, the Qatari King , a close US ally, allows private wahabi charities (wahhabism is a  Saudi-based deviant so-called Islamic sect)  to raise billions of dollars for CIA-backed Al Qaeda rebels in Syria.Qatar has also been a big source of arming dozens of fanatic militias in Iraq and Syria, in order to overthrow the democratically-elected establishment in those countes.
The 34-four-year-old Qatari Monarch (Tamim bin Hamad) has once purportedly said: "I'm not a patriarch for my family member's because Qatar is not actually a country or a nation, rather it is a big Natural Gas and Oil firm, and thus I grant this natural privilege to all my siblings to enjoy their own private carnal desires".
The British newspaper 'Financial Times' revealed on Thursday a heavy-caliber scandal when the British security service (MI6) with the assistance of Scotland Yard had broken into a sumptuous room in Excelsior London Hotel after receiving many complaints, only to find the Qatari Princess engaging in shamful orgy with seven men.
According to the newspaper, the Scotland Yard was surprised when it checked the ID of  the female culprit only to find that she is a  Qatari princess and discovered her in the most obscene position , having sex with seven Europeans men inside the room.The Princess, during the preliminary investigation openly admitted that she is a member of Qatari Royal Family, and King's half-sister.
She also had admitted that through a Saudi intermediary [pimp]she brought in men of special physical qualities who have specific experiences ,in exchange of a exorbitant  money.
The Qatari Princess asked her Saudi intermediary ,this time, to bring seven men at once altogether , and asked him to stay in the hotel lobby during the nightl until all seven men  leave, for fear of possible violence by anyone of them, as had happened  previously in past secret visits.
The princess also admitted that her intention was not to damage her country's reputation and as far as she knew this was not in violation of the British law.Ironically, police reminded her it is against the British law to use  men who had a criminal record.
A source within the 'Financial Times' divulged the story  , though the case will not affect the Qatari-British relationship as the Princess enjoys  the diplomatic immunity.
The British police notified the Qatari Embassy of the incident, but the latter did not care at all about anything other than preventing the scandal to be further disclosed.
'Financial Times' tried to obtain  further details regarding the story , but the Qatari Embassy sought to prevent the scandal from spreading by trying to bribe local newspapers  --£500 million-- , but 'Financial Times' allegedly  rejected the alluuring offer, and has published the story.
Source: middleeastpress.com & www.ft.com

US-Philippine drills open in uncertainty: Are they the last?


AP THE BIG STORY

THE BIG STORY


U.S. Marines Brig. Gen. John Jansen of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Maj. Gen. Andre... Read more
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — U.S. and Philippine forces opened joint combat exercises under some uncertainty on Tuesday, days after the Philippines' new leader said they would be the last such drills of his six-year presidency.
Marine commanders from both sides said at the opening ceremony that the exercises, involving 1,100 American and 400 Filipino military personnel, are aimed at improving readiness by the two countries to respond to a range of crises while deepening their historic ties.
Angered by U.S. criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that the maneuvers would be the last of his term, which began in June. His foreign secretary later said the decision was not final, sparking questions as to whether other annual U.S.-Philippine military exercises would proceed as planned.
U.S. Embassy officials said Washington has not been formally notified by the Philippine government of any move to scrap other planned drills. Such a move by the Philippines would impede Washington's plans to expand the footprint of U.S. forces in Southeast Asia to counter China.
A Philippine military spokesman for the ongoing exercises, Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, sidestepped the question of whether Duterte's remarks have affected the troops and the atmosphere of the drills, partly staged to improve camaraderie between the two combat forces.
"As much as I would like to answer that question, I would leave that to higher authorities," Lacuesta said Tuesday.
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. John Jansen said that aside from promoting regional security, the exercises have helped save lives in terms of fostering more rapid and organized responses to disasters like the deadly 2013 devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippines.
Citing a much-awaited drill that involves American and Filipino marines wading ashore in an amphibious beach landing and in boat raids, Jansen said the exercise "is not just about projecting power from the sea, it is about growing a capability."
Duterte, who describes himself as a leftist leader, has had an uneasy relationship with the United States, a key treaty ally. He has said he is charting a foreign policy not dependent on the U.S., and has taken steps to revive ties with China that had been strained under his predecessor over long-standing territorial conflicts.
Duterte has announced publicly that he will not allow the Philippine navy to conduct joint patrols with the U.S. military in the disputed South China Sea because it could spark an armed conflict in Philippine territory. He has also said he wants U.S. forces out of the southern Philippines, where he said minority Muslims resent the presence of American troops.
Still, Duterte has said he will not abrogate a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. and will maintain the long alliance with America
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/719a579d1e394e3ba5e8499667e60a3b

Modern Slavery Conference Held to Tackle Awful Crime

West Yorkshire Police

Monday, 3 October, 2016
West Yorkshire Police and the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner joined partners from the public and private sectors to host a Modern Slavery summit. 
The aim of the event, which was held on Thursday 29 September at West Yorkshire Police’s Carr Gate facility, was to bring together partners from the business, banking and public sectors to work together to tackle this most awful crime. 
Over 140 delegates from a cross section of businesses from the banking and recruitment sectors and representatives from academia attended the event. 
Key note speakers included Kevin Hyland - the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and Paul Broadbent – the Chief Executive of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. 
Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: 
"Human trafficking is a vile crime perpetrated by money driven criminals who have no regard for the suffering of their victims. 
"Being the lead Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for human trafficking and modern day slavery, here in West Yorkshire we are leading the way both regionally and nationally in tackling traffickers and criminal gangs, as well as rescuing and supporting the victims. 
"In conjunction with anti-human trafficking charity Hope for Justice and other partners we have trained thousands of frontline officers and staff on spotting the tell-tale signs of this crime. We created 2 years ago a dedicated team of detectives to investigate reports and tackle the perpetrators head on. We also established the West Yorkshire Anti-Trafficking Network at the same time and this year I helped launch the national PCC network in the Home Office to share good practise and promote true joined up partnership working. The only way we can tackle this crime is to work together and this event with partners from across the public and private sectors was the latest step in developing our approach with key partners. I was therefore delighted with the take up for this event and the input from all our speakers and participants. 
"It was a really constructive and excellent event and I would like to thank all those who attended and share our vision of bringing an end to modern day slavery and human trafficking." 
The West Yorkshire Police Temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins, said: 
"Modern Slavery is a harrowing subject to discuss but this event was a very powerful reminder that there are lots of people and organisations out there who can make a massive difference. 
"The event itself could not have gone any better – we had support from so many people who came along, and listened and contributed to the discussions.  
"It is vital that we get it right ‘on the ground’ in terms of how we safeguard vulnerable victims and deal with those looking to profit from the misery of others. West Yorkshire Police is only one of only a handful of Forces to have a unit dedicated solely to tackling this insidious crime. 
"It is also vital that we get it right at a strategic level too. Modern Slavery is an issue that can affect various organisations and sectors – no one can or should work in isolation to tackle it. 
"That is why we held this summit – to discuss and share best practise and to learn from others so that we can then ensure that together we are doing everything possible. 
"Everyone has a role to play – from the police officer ‘on the beat’ to the bank cashier taking a payment – the approach to tackling Modern Slavery must be a joint one." 
The conference heard from keynote speakers about the crime and what can be done to stop it and the steps that can be taken to safeguard victims of it. 
During the lunch interval at the event the Leeds based theatre company, Bughlight staged a short play about modern slavery. 
Participants at the conference were also shown a hard-hitting video about modern slavery and the impact it has on victims.
Read more: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/news/modern-slavery-conference-held-tackle-awful-crime

Over 150 GPRTU leaders empowered to fight human trafficking




Regional News of Sunday, 2 October 2016
Source: 3news.com


GPRTU Workshop7  
Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) worship.

Engage Now Africa, an international NGO committed to ending poverty in Africa has launched a campaign dubbed “Trafficking-free Road Campaign” to empower leaders of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the Central Region.

The 1-day sensitization forum saw over 150 beneficiaries who represented 103 branches of the GPRTU in the Central Region sensitized and empowered on the tricks of child trafficking and how to curb it.

The participants were also handed anti-slavery branded stickers, certificate of participation including 30 minutes video documentary on child trafficking.

They were also tasked to show the video to their members within the branches and also get them copies to show in their vehicles on daily basis.

Director of End Modern Slavery of Engage Now Africa, David Kofi Awusi remarked, “our goal is to record zero modern slavery or human trafficking on all our roads in Ghana”.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign at Oguaa Teachers Hall in Cape Coast on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, David Kofi Awusi said: “We believe the first step towards ending modern slavery is through sensitization and prevention hence the launch of our newest innovative campaign today”.

He further noted: “The greatest strength of this campaign is our strong collaboration with the GPRTU leaders and drivers so that the drivers willingly commit to showing the video documentary on their vehicles consistently and also report cases of trafficking at the police checkpoint for intervention”.

“This way, on daily basis, passengers and ordinary Ghanaians both in the cities and remote communities will be sensitized and empowered to know how to resist, identify and report cases of trafficking in its various forms”, David Kofi Awusi added.

The participants pledged support and willingness to get drivers within their respective branches to show the documentary to passengers on daily basis to enable the campaign run smoothly.

Modern slavery [or human trafficking] is rampant in Ghana growing at a fast alarming rate with over 190,000 people being victims.

About 49,000 of these victims, mostly children, are already engaged in the act on the Volta Lake alone. Out of this number, over 21,000 of them are forced into hazardous labour like diving into a deepest depth of a river to remove a trapped net including other dangerous works that put the lives of these children at risk.

Engage Now Africa is currently working in Ghana with the mission “to engage and strengthen individuals, families, and communities to end poverty by instilling hope and teaching principles of sustainability in: education, micro-credit, clean water, medical services, orphan support, and eradication of modern slavery”.