Sudan calls for support with combating human trafficking
Sudan has acknowledged that human trafficking occurs on a great scale in the refugee camps on the eastern borders. During a regional conference on smuggling in the Horn of Africa this week, Sudanese Ministers demanded logistical support to chase human traffickers, and expressed readiness to cooperate with the international community. This week, Khartoum hosted a conference on trafficking in persons in the Horn of Africa, organised by the African Union, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the Sudanese government. Fifteen countries and a delegation of the EU attended the meeting, during which a joint strategy and action plan combating human trafficking is due to be adopted. Sudan’s Second Vice-President Hasabo Abdel Rahman reiterated his country’s commitment to combat trafficking together with neighbouring countries. Speaking in a press conference at the end of the meeting, he asserted that Sudan is a transit country for traffickers, and that they are active in refugee camps on the eastern Sudan’s border areas. Sudan’s Commissioner of Refugees, Hamad El Jazouli, revealed that Sudan recorded 102 cases of human trafficking during the year 2013. The Interior Minister, Lt. Col. Ismat Abdel Rahman, stated on 29 September that particularly the Kassala, El Gedaref, and Red Sea states in eastern Sudan witnessed an increase in smuggling. US commends Sudan’s efforts The deputy head of US embassy in Sudan, Benjamin Moeling, in a speech delivered on Thursday, commended Sudan’s efforts. “In particular, we commended the government for passing anti-trafficking legislation and establishing a national coordinating body. Building off of those initial discussions, the United States looks forward to additional conversations with Sudan, and its partners, on how to further prevent, prosecute, and protect against trafficking in persons.”Before the opening session on Monday, Sudan´s Minister of Justice said that “Sudan ratified all international conventions that fight the trafficking phenomena”. Eritrean refugeesHuman Rights Watch accused Sudanese and Egyptian security officials of involvement in human trafficking and handing over Eritrean refugees to gangs in February this year. Political instability and wars in the Horn of Africa make the region volatile and insecure, driving large number of people to quit their countries and cross to Sudan seeking to join Europe, Canada and the US. This situation also created a market for smugglers and traffickers who request large amounts of money to facilitate their departure to their final destination. (Sudan Tribune, Sudan Vision) Photo: The African Union Regional Conference on Human Trafficking and Smuggling in the Horn of Africa in Khartoum, October 2014 (Sudan Vision) Related: EU urges Sudan to step-up dialogue and peace processes (16 October 2014) Sudan acknowledges ‘significant increase in human trafficking’ (30 September 2014) ‘Sudan’s top officials cooperate in human trafficking’: report (5 December 2013)
Sudan has acknowledged that human trafficking occurs on a great scale in the refugee camps on the eastern borders. During a regional conference on smuggling in the Horn of Africa this week, Sudanese Ministers demanded logistical support to chase human traffickers, and expressed readiness to cooperate with the international community.
This week, Khartoum hosted a conference on trafficking in persons in the Horn of Africa, organised by the African Union, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the Sudanese government. Fifteen countries and a delegation of the EU attended the meeting, during which a joint strategy and action plan combating human trafficking is due to be adopted.
Sudan’s Second Vice-President Hasabo Abdel Rahman reiterated his country’s commitment to combat trafficking together with neighbouring countries. Speaking in a press conference at the end of the meeting, he asserted that Sudan is a transit country for traffickers, and that they are active in refugee camps on the eastern Sudan’s border areas. Sudan’s Commissioner of Refugees, Hamad El Jazouli, revealed that Sudan recorded 102 cases of human trafficking during the year 2013.
The Interior Minister, Lt. Col. Ismat Abdel Rahman, stated on 29 September that particularly the Kassala, El Gedaref, and Red Sea states in eastern Sudan witnessed an increase in smuggling.
US commends Sudan’s efforts
The deputy head of US embassy in Sudan, Benjamin Moeling, in a speech delivered on Thursday, commended Sudan’s efforts. “In particular, we commended the government for passing anti-trafficking legislation and establishing a national coordinating body. Building off of those initial discussions, the United States looks forward to additional conversations with Sudan, and its partners, on how to further prevent, prosecute, and protect against trafficking in persons.”
Before the opening session on Monday, Sudan´s Minister of Justice said that “Sudan ratified all international conventions that fight the trafficking phenomena”.
Eritrean refugees
Human Rights Watch accused Sudanese and Egyptian security officials of involvement in human trafficking and handing over Eritrean refugees to gangs in February this year. Political instability and wars in the Horn of Africa make the region volatile and insecure, driving large number of people to quit their countries and cross to Sudan seeking to join Europe, Canada and the US. This situation also created a market for smugglers and traffickers who request large amounts of money to facilitate their departure to their final destination.
(Sudan Tribune, Sudan Vision)
Photo: The African Union Regional Conference on Human Trafficking and Smuggling in the Horn of Africa in Khartoum, October 2014 (Sudan Vision)
Related:
EU urges Sudan to step-up dialogue and peace processes (16 October 2014)
Sudan acknowledges ‘significant increase in human trafficking’ (30 September 2014)
‘Sudan’s top officials cooperate in human trafficking’: report (5 December 2013)
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