Introduction
Awareness Against Human Trafficking (HAART) is a registered organization in the Republic of Kenya under the NGO Coordination Act of 1990. The organization was formed by people who have been working on social issues and have been encountering anecdotal stories of Kenyans and other East Africans being trafficked as a result of child labor and sexual exploitation. One of the renowned founders, Sr Mary O’Malley MMM, a member of Medical Missionaries of Mary, has been working on these issues in the region for the last 25 years.
HAART is also enriched with the vast experience of Radoslaw Malinowski who has been managing the counter human trafficking desk at the Center For Social Concern (CFSC) in Malawi as well as coordinating research for the Dennis Hurley Peace Institute on human trafficking and its impact on security in South Africa.
Among other personalities in the Board are committed human rights activists and good governance crusaders in Kenya abroad.
Based on vast experiences the organization would enhance its work in carrying out the task of eradicating human trafficking in Kenya and to effectively address the urgent need to combat human trafficking.
Although the people have been working on various aspects of human trafficking, the previous experiences, successes and failures alike brought them to form a non-governmental organization that would enhance their work in carrying out the task of eradicating human trafficking in Kenya. The reason for forming such an organization was that many tasks carried out by an individual could be more effectively carried out successfully by an organization, so to speak. Formation of HAART was a result of our years of practice, faith beliefs and personal convictions, and above all the urgent need to combat human trafficking.
After some discussions we formed our vision, mission and core objective, as it is below. They are to guide us in our work.
Vision
A society free from trafficking in persons and violence against humanity.
Mission Statement
To engage in activities geared towards the eradication of trafficking in persons and violence against humanity.
Broad Goals/ Core Values
To build capacity and mobilize citizens to overcome trafficking in persons and violence against humanity in Eastern Africa.
Background to the Problem
Trafficking in persons is a problem that has been drawing the attention of media, worldwide since the end of Cold War Era. There is no consensus or data on the number of trafficked victims annually. However, various international institutions and government agencies estimate between 600 000 and 2 million people being trafficked yearly across the globe. According to various studies human trafficking has a very negative impact on democracy, state security and gender equality (since a majority of victims are women and children). Basic human rights which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees to each human being are seriously violated by the phenomenon of human trafficking.
Trafficking in Persons affects the integrity of the victim and damages done to the individual cannot be recovered. Sam Thenya, from Nairobi Women’s Hospital identifies some of the effects of the sexual abuse, in most of the cases identical with trafficking: physical injuries, infections, chronic ill health, lax rectal muscles & incontinence due to sodomy, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, infertility rape trauma syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder, disturbed sleep, nightmares, regressive behaviour, psychosomatic illness, lost opportunities, feelings of betrayal, socio-economic problems, strained family relations, drug abuse, low self esteem, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, spiritual dilemma as the individuals tend to question their faith in God.
In addition to this, victims in Kenya are often subjected to secondary victimization. The United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse (Declaration of Basic Principles, 1985) defines secondary victimization as “the victimization that occurs not as a direct result of criminal act, but through responses of institutions and individuals to the victim” In the Kenyan context secondary victimization occurs often, especially within the criminal justice system.
According to the Trafficking in Persons Report, (TIP), presented by the USA Government annually, Kenya is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically conditions of forced labour, child labour and sexual exploitation. Within the country, Kenyan children are forced into domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation – including involvement in the coastal sex tourism industry – and forced labour in agriculture (for example in flower plantations), fishing, cattle herding, begging, street vending, and bar attendance, exposing many to incidents of drug abuse. Traffickers – who gain poor families’ trust through familial, tribal, or religious ties – falsely offer to raise and educate children in towns, or obtain for women lucrative employment. Trafficked Kenyan adults in Asia, Europe and USA are exploited in involuntary domestic servitude, forced labour and sexual exploitation. Such vulnerable groups can be involved in criminal activities, and promoting insecurity in Kenya and within the region.
Methodology/ Strategies
Having founded a new organization that will benefit from the expertise of its founders, and knowing our limitations we intend to engage ourselves in the following strategies for the implementation of our programs. Our organisation will carry out programs using following approaches.
Research and Information Management
This will focus on gathering relevant facts; data and information related to various aspects of Human Trafficking, process the information and appropriately package it for the benefit of the general public, HAART and the larger civil society. Among activities that will fall under this programme are anecdotal and scientific data collection, website management, resource centre and publications.
Promotion of strategic interventions for HAART and Rapid Response System
The programme will focus on Trafficking in Persons and its impact on key economic sectors and address them specifically touching on human movement at its core, public resource utilization, sensitization of communities’ management and monitoring all situations where occurrences of human trafficking have been compromising human rights and human dignity. The target groups for above activities are underprivileged members of the society, mainly women and children. This program will also engage in creating rapid response systems, based on volunteers and partners at the grassroots level.
Capacity Building
This program will include all activities that empower vulnerable groups in the society, and key stakeholders such as government officials, opinion leaders, media, religious leaders and international institutions on the dangers of human trafficking. Local groups at the grassroots level would receive priority. At the core of this program will be workshops, road shows, campaigns in media, distribution of posters.
Rehabilitation
HAART will engage in programs meant to provide services for victims of trafficking in persons and sexually related violence. In cooperation with local and like minded partners, victims and their environment will be received, counselled and empowered. The provision of safe housing will be implemented in collaboration with other partners.
Partnerships, Alliance Building & Advocacy.
The core of this programme will be policy analysis and advocacy on poverty reduction strategies and other factors that foster human trafficking.
Institutional Development Management and Sustainability
This will deal with all aspects of the organizational development to make HAART effectively deliver on its programme. It will involve putting in place, developing and enhancing of Management Information Systems (MIS); Financial Management Systems, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Systems; Human Resources Development and Management and Programme Facilitation.
Resource Mobilization and Development
This will focus on the possible avenues for realizing a formidable resource base, its sustainability and focus on development of activities.
