Trafficking in Persons

Trafficking in persons has become a major global concern affecting all regions of the world, including Southern Africa. Building on the growing awareness and recognition of the need for a coordinated response, both at the regional and sub-regional level, UNODC Southern Africa predicates its work on the notion that crucial elements in countering trafficking in persons are establishing a comprehensive policy for dealing with the issue as well as putting in place specialized and harmonized legislation.

Taking this into account, UNODC Southern Africa has established a partnership with Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to provide technical assistance to SADC member states to strengthen the technical and legal capacity of the national competent authorities in ratifying and implementing the United Nations Trafficking in Persons Protocol.

UNODC Southern Africa is also undertaking an assessment of legislation and policies on trafficking in persons in selected SADC member states with the aim of providing technical assistance in drafting specialized legislation covering, inter alia, the criminalization of trafficking in persons. The lack of such provisions in national legislation has undermined and hampered ongoing efforts on the part of Governments and civil society in countering the phenomenon in the region.