In developing countries, including Burundi, one child in four is forced into child labour, exploitation and trafficking, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Almost half of Burundi’s population is under 18, and 30% of teenagers are out of school, facing increasing challenges due to economic instability, mobility and limited educational opportunities, exposing them to an increased risk of human trafficking.
“Many children flee their homes and end up exploited in the informal economy, where it is even more difficult to trace them while they are highly exposed to multiple risks of violence”, col. Epitace MASUMBUKO, President of the Commission for Consultation and Monitoring on the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons.
Rising inflation, socio-economic hardship and global events, as well as the effects of climate change, pushed many young people into essential resources deprivation.
It exposes them to an increased risk of human trafficking especially in Burundi where child trafficking embeds in forced begging, sexual exploitation and forced labour, and also extends to neighbouring countries such as Tanzania.
In Bujumbura, the economic capital for example, more than 34 hotels, bars and restaurants are involved in human trafficking mainly in young girls who are victims of prostitution for others, especially during the summer holidays.
As reported by L’Observatoire National pour la Lutte contre la Criminalité Transnationale in French (ONLCT), a local non-governmental organization, human trafficking is observed on the national and international level.
Internationally, the ONLCT has already surveyed cases of albinos being trafficked, especially to Tanzania, for the purposes of organ trafficking for superstition.
Two albino children, from Karusi and Cankuzo provinces respectively were killed, after burial ceremonies, they were unearthed the next day, and their bones subsequently sold in Tanzania.
“At the market on a small island called ZIWANI KOME, in NYARUGUSU, MWANZA Province, in Tanzania, a small piece of albino bone can be bought for between 800,000 and 1,000,000 Tanzanian shillings, that is between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 Burundian francs”, said Prime MBARUBUKEYE president of ONLCT.
In Burundi, 3062 children deemed victims of human trafficking in 2022, he added.
In Eastern Burundi Cankuzo ranked first where 399 children were trafficked to Tanzania, Ruyigi (392), Muyinga (375), Rutana (357), Makamba (283).
In Western Burundi, Rumonge tops the list with 315 children trafficked to Democratic Republic of Congo, Bujumbura Mairie (271), Bujumbura (256), Cibitoke (211), Bubanza (203).
Major strides have been forged to prevent human trafficking and improve the provision of services to child victims of violations of children’s rights including the National Action Plan (NAP) 2023-2027 to combat human trafficking.
Its pillars include climatic contingency, displaced persons reintegration, and food insecurity in effort to prevent, protect, and recover.
“Reduce the number of people displaced by natural disasters by 10% a year”, reads the NAP.
“More than 10% of returnees (old and new) are reintegrated each year, over a period of 6 years”.
By 2027, according to the NAP reduce the number of acutely food insecure people (IPC 3 and above) from 10% to less than 5% and maintain it at less than 5 for the next 5 years.
“Protecting the rights of victims of human trafficking in general and children in particular is a shared responsibility, which means that everyone must play a part in preventing child trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers”, said col. Epitace MASUMBUKO, President of the Commission for Consultation and Monitoring on the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons.
Further efforts remain to identify victims of trafficking, build the capacity of organizations and actors involved in prevention, protection, prosecution and regional cooperation to provide integrated responses.
“We remain committed to creating a future where every child in Burundi can grow up safely and reach their full potential, free from human trafficking,” concluded Ms Emanuela Muscarà, Head of Mission, IOM Burundi On the occasion of the World Day Against Human Trafficking, celebrated on the 30th July 2024 each year.
