Malawi needs to provide care, assistance and protection for trafficked persons in a manner that is compatible with the full respect to their rights, including providing at the minimum, accommodation or shelter, education, health care, legal aid, financial support, social support, interpretation assistance, and other needs has been strengthened with the training of fifty-three officials on 13th to 14th March 2024 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The training was organized by the Malawi Office for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
One of the trainers, Inspector Frantella Tembo, said that police officers as enforcement officers for trafficking in person in Malawi have a duty to refer all trafficked persons to Protection Officers for screening, care and protection, hence Malawi needs well-trained officers for that service.
He said it was therefore vital for intervention, that Malawi adopt formal procedures to confirm the “trafficked person status” of individuals and their eligibility for various services, including temporary residence permits, health services, shelter, and protection.
Mr. Davie Mpaso, one of the participants admitted that before the training they operated through mistakes and assumptions.
He said that the training had enhanced his knowledge and understanding of why physical, psychological and psychosocial harm suffered by trafficked children as well as their increased vulnerability to exploitation require that they be dealt with separately from adults in terms of laws, policies, programmes and interventions.
He said that during the training they have learned why the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning trafficked children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities, or legislative bodies.
Chifundo Harawa, a trainer from Malawi Human Rights Commission encourage Protection Officers to provide appropriate assistance and protection to children by taking into full account and consideration all women and children’s rights and needs.
“It is equally important that such children be separated from adult victims at all stages of the process of providing them care, assistance and protection”.
Speaking during the workshop, Mr. Vivian Limbe, the Principal Social Welfare Officer with the Ministry, said that the training will enhance the knowledge gaps between protection officers and provide a uniform knowledge base that will enable them to perform their duties diligently.
“This training marks a significant step towards harmonizing service delivery in the protection of victims. By equipping protection officers with standardized knowledge and procedures, the manual will facilitate more effective and coordinated efforts in combating trafficking and ensuring the well-being of survivors. It represents a collaborative effort between government and civil society, underlining the collective commitment to safeguarding human rights and combating this heinous crime”, says Mr. Limbe.
