Human trafficking ‘new crime’

The National National

By SAMUEL BARIASI
PAPUA New Guineans are not wary of human trafficking because they do not know much about the crime, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) national
project officer (counter trafficking and protection) Enid Kantha
says.
“They need to understand the problem of human trafficking so that they can identify the crime and lodge reports,” she said.
“Human trafficking is not only an international issue, it is also a domestic problem happening within our families and communities.
“We are conducting public awareness programmes on identifying human trafficking because most of the cases reported may not initially be reported as human trafficking cases because of the lack of knowledge on the issue.
“Many of such cases had being reported as sexual assault or general child abuse cases. Most people easily used Papua New Guinea (PNG) cultural practices to justify their actions without realising that they are involved in human trafficking.
“The crime exists in customary child adoption, arranged marriages and bride prices but are brushed off with cultural justifications.
“An example of domestic servitude (the state of being a slave) is when you bring a relative from the village saying that you are going to provide them benefits for looking after your home or babysitting but you do not keep to your word.
“A baseline study in 2012 revealed that human trafficking is frequent in the logging and entertainment industries.
“But there are more reports coming from the fishing and retail industries as well.”
Kantha said Government input was needed to really address the issue of human trafficking.
US Embassy consular chief Patrick Neeley said: “We are helping to fund public awareness programmes with stakeholders, including IOM, on the issue.
“The tricky part about human trafficking is that it doesn’t have to involve movement.
“Most people associate trafficking with smuggling.
“Smuggling is a crime against the state whereas human trafficking is a crime against humans.”
Yesterday was PNG’s Trafficking in Persons Day.