CSO data informs the Ugandan Government’s annual trafficking report
CATIP-U’s data collection offers new insights into trafficking in and around Uganda, a report highlights human rights issues in Nike’s supply chain, and The Freedom Fund and ReAct Asia’s new initiative will help empower Southeast Asian CSOs to hold companies to account.
A new report mapping human trafficking and risky migration routes relating to Uganda will be launched today, the 10th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, by Uganda’s Coordination Office of Prevention Against Trafficking in Persons (the coordinating agency for trafficking prevention under Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs). The report is based on a comprehensive national mapping of trafficking and migration routes conducted by The Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons Uganda (CATIP-U), and was referenced in Uganda’s National CTIP Report 2023, with the Government describing it as a huge achievement.
Data Insights into Human Trafficking Activity in Uganda analyzes data from 29 police regions across the country, collected by local civil society organizations with support from CATIP-U. It was produced by Freedom Collaborative, in partnership with the European Union, GIZ, Better Migration Management, and Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The report provides an overview of the locations of origin, transit points and destinations of migrants and victims of trafficking, as well as insights into the drivers of migration, vulnerability factors, and the modus operandi used to facilitate migration and human trafficking. While the data provides valuable insights into which trafficking victims and migrants are in touch with local law enforcement, the gaps in data coverage are equally significant. These gaps highlight potential underrepresentation of vulnerable groups, such as Eritreans and Ethiopians, who may not be captured in law enforcement reports but who may be processed and reported through other channels such as the Office of the Prime Minister, or embassies, or not identified or included in official referral or anti-trafficking systems. Furthermore, limited access to some case files, particularly those managed by aviation police, poses challenges to the comprehensive understanding of trafficking incidents.
The dataset highlights the prevalence of internal trafficking within Uganda and reveals the migration routes between various districts, underscoring the need for targeted interventions at a local level to address and prevent exploitation. Demographically, the dataset reveals a gender imbalance, with 354 cases involving females and 146 involving males, while the majority of individuals affected fall within the 11 to 18 age group, highlighting the vulnerability of young people to exploitation. The dominance of domestic work, begging, and commercial sex as industries of exploitation underlines the need for targeted interventions within these sectors – it is clear that addressing the root causes within each industry, such as labour rights violations and gender-based exploitation, is crucial for preventing and combating trafficking.
The primary driver for migration across genders is the pursuit of better employment opportunities. However, the significant impact of abuse at home, particularly affecting females, underscores the complex and multifaceted reasons prompting individuals to migrate. The gender-specific variations in motivation, such as marriage and promised employment, highlight the need for tailored approaches to address the diverse factors influencing migration decisions.
Possible applications of this report to guide efforts in addressing human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants in Uganda include: enhancing targeted interventions at a local level by utilizing data to identify migration patterns and trafficking hotspots; identifying and monitoring high-risk migration routes, such as those connecting Uganda to neighboring countries, and implementing safety measures such as checkpoints, security escorts, and information-sharing platforms, to reduce the risk of trafficking and exploitation; and identifying patterns and disparities that contribute to increased vulnerability to trafficking, while developing tailored support programs to address the specific needs of vulnerable groups, such as youth and women.
Finally, data gaps must be identified and addressed, by contrasting the collected data with information from other responders such as NGOs and embassies, to help identify whether gaps are due to limited access to data, or if specific case and demographic information is not being properly identified, reported, and recorded.
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:
A new report by the Clean Clothes Campaign and the WSR Network exposes Nike’s continued failure to address human rights violations in its supply chain, focusing on problematic practices at Violet Apparel in Cambodia and Hong Seng Knitting in Thailand. The report also highlights the role of social auditing in prioritizing commercial interests over workers’ rights.
Equidem’s submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Human Rights in the Context of Climate Change details the severe heat stress faced by delivery service workers in the UAE, worsened by forced labour conditions and climate impacts. The report calls for greater accountability from both UAE authorities and businesses, highlighting the need for improved access to information on labour rights and occupational hazards in the platform-based delivery sector.
The Freedom Fund is launching the Corporate Accountability Seed Fund to support frontline organizations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand in holding multinational companies accountable for forced labour in their supply chains. Partnering with ReAct Asia, this initiative aims to empower Global South civil society organizations with seed funding and technical support, enhancing their capacity for strategic litigation and other actions against companies failing to meet their responsibilities.
Fortify Rights has called for an end to the Myanmar junta’s forced conscription in Rakhine State, also urging Rohingya armed groups in Bangladesh to stop abducting Rohingya refugees. Its new investigation reveals details of the ways in which refugees are forcibly recruited into the junta’s military, actions that may constitute war crimes and human trafficking.
The 2024 Olympics in Paris have been marred by a “social cleansing” effort that has disproportionately targeted the city’s most vulnerable populations, including immigrants, asylum seekers, and sex workers. Freedom United has criticized the French state’s approach, which conflates sex work with trafficking and exacerbates the risks faced by marginalized communities, calling for a focus on human rights and protection for all residents.
Free The Slaves, as Secretariat of the Caribbean Coalition Against Trafficking In Persons, invites survivors, experts, and representatives from various sectors to the coalition’s virtual launch tomorrow, 31 July. This public-private partnership aims to unify efforts to combat human trafficking in the Caribbean and empower survivors.
Join USAID Thailand CTIP and Winrock International in person in Bangkok, or online, for a learning event on 6 August, 8.30-12.30, on Strengthening Local Systems to Counter Trafficking in Persons. The event will comprise a panel discussion, group discussion, knowledge-sharing, and a networking opportunity. Registration is open until 2 August.
Freedom Collaborative is currently looking for interns to support its research and other projects. Please email us for further information or to apply.
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