.SCOTT

By CHARITY MOONGA –

VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott has called for a balanced response to effectively curb human trafficking.
Dr Scott said there was need to exercise compassion and sympathy to people who were migrating, especially for economic reasons.
The vice-president said the driving force behind human trafficking was economic as people wanted to earn a living, hence the need to treat the migrants with compassion.
“People are not migrating for the sake of migrating but they want to earn a living,” Dr Scott said.
He was speaking at the 4th symposium on human trafficking in Zambia whose theme was ‘Zambia at 50, protecting migrants from trafficking and exploitation.”
Dr Scott said prospects for food, work and marriage had continued to be bleak for most people, hence their move to migrate and look for greener pastures.
“There are displaced people everywhere and so we need a balanced response to this to alleviate suffering,” he said.
Dr Scott said systems should be put in place to alleviate the suffering of people who were migrating.
“Don’t make it too criminal but glue together everything and understand that while for some its economical, others it’s just foolishness,” Dr Scott said.
Acting United Nations (UN) resident coordinator, Simon Cammelbeeck described human trafficking as modern-day slavery which needed to be eliminated.
Mr Cammelbeeck said there was need for protection mechanisms that broke down population movements and allow for authorities to reach the most vulnerable people.
He urged delegates to make a stand and put an end to exploitation and trafficking of human beings.
Head of cooperation of the European Union (EU) delegation to Zambia and COMESA, Aad Biesebroek reiterated the EU’s commitment to assist address human trafficking problems in Zambia.
Since 2012, the EU had contributed K14 million to combat human trafficking and exploitation in Zambia.