Official explains punishment for trafficking

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
PEOPLE found guilty of child trafficking for the purpose of prostitution or sexual exploitation can be jailed for up to 25 years, an official says.
Enid Kantha, the International Organisation of Migration national operations officer for counter-trafficking, was responding to the story of the minor who was allegedly sold by her cousin for K100 to have sex with two men at a lodge in Port Moresby.
“Child trafficking for the purposes of forced prostitution or sexual exploitation is an offense under the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2013, and can attract a penalty of up to 25 years imprisonment,” she said.
“Anyone who facilitates the process of trafficking or is involved in the exploitation can be charged. And many a times in our homes, we don’t realise that we are contributing to the exploitation of another’s trafficking.”
She also pointed out that cultural practices often led to human-trafficking although we do not realise it. This happens when a person is taken by a relative and not treated as promised in the initial agreement.
“We may bring in relatives to do babysitting work or help around the house and say that we will pay them or support them to further their education, and we don’t,” Kantha said.