Press Releases

Tanzania and the United States Partner to Combat Human Trafficking

November 8, 2007

Tanzanian Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Commissioner, Laurean Tibasana yesterday discussed the partnership and cooperation between the U.S. and Tanzania on combating human trafficking. Tibasana noted that Tanzania "welcomes this opportunity to share the gained experience of the U.S., as we are still in the process of putting legislation in place to deal with trafficking in persons."

The statement came at the conclusion of a five-day official visit to Tanzania by Acting Assistant Attorney General of the United States Rena Comisac and a delegation of U.S. Department of Justice officials to discuss partnership in combating trafficking in persons. During the visit, Comisac met with Ministers Hon. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Mary Nagu, Hon. Minister of Public Safety and National Security Bakari Mwapachu, and Hon. Johnson Mwanyika, Attorney General of the United Republic of Tanzania, among many other government officials.

“I have been delighted by the warm reception we have received in Tanzania, both here in Dar es Salaam and in Dodoma,” said Comisac. “We are particularly impressed by the enthusiasm of the many government leaders we met for passing a comprehensive statute to combat human trafficking. Tanzania is an important partner for us, and we look forward to close cooperation in the future.”

In Tanzania, the U.S. Government has supported trainings and numerous other programs for a range of law enforcement officials during the past year. During her visit, Comisac pledged to continue to support trainings and other capacity-building that will strengthen Tanzania’s ability to deal with this modern-day form of human slavery.

As Tanzania works on drafting and passing comprehensive trafficking legislation, Tanzanian Ministry of Justice Commissioner Tibasana noted that Tanzania has the advantage of comparing experiences with countries like the United States, which has had legislation in place for seven years.

During the press event, Regina Mandia, Counter-Trafficking Project Officer from the NGO Kiota Women’s Health and Development Organization (KIWOHEDE) explained that domestic trafficking is one of the most common forms of trafficking found in Tanzania. She described children being brought from rural areas with false promises of jobs. These vulnerable children end up being exploited. Good Samaritans are often the only resource for victims, who often trapped in houses and unable to communicate with their families back in the village. Mandia said KIWOHEDE has already helped 112 victims of trafficking, but estimated that there are many more victims who are “invisible” to the authorities. Comisac, who visited KIWOHEDE’s shelter, applauded the important work of this NGO.

U.S. Delegation member Evan Young, Counsel to the U.S. Attorney General, added that he was “impressed with the government’s determination to keep pressing toward zero victims of human trafficking.”

Beyond government officials, Comisac raised trafficking in persons with partners from international organizations such as IOM and UNICEF, local NGOs such as KIWOHEDE and Child in the Sun, and visited shelters for rescued victims.

The crime of human trafficking adversely affects all citizens. It deprives people, especially the most vulnerable people, of their most basic human rights and freedoms, it poses a public health risk, and it is a major source of illicit revenue for organized crime. It is a problem that can't be ignored by any members of the world community. To that end, the U.S. is proud to partner with other countries to free victims of trafficking wherever possible.

While it is estimated that as many as 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year, it is impossible to know precisely how many victims there are because human trafficking is a clandestine practice. Its victims are hidden -- they are indeed “invisible.” U.S. Government estimates do not include millions of victims who are trafficked within their own countries rather than across borders. And even one victim of human trafficking is one too many.

The U.S. Government is proud to partner with other countries and NGOs to fight human trafficking. Last year, the U.S. Government spent approximately $74 million to fund 154 projects in about 70 countries to support foreign government and NGO efforts to combat human trafficking. U.S. Government efforts to promote the rule of law and economic reforms in many countries help reduce the conditions which facilitate trafficking.

The United States certainly is not immune from the crime of human trafficking; in fact, U.S. officials estimate that between 14,500 and 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year. To fight modern-day slavery, 10 federal agencies are working on the U.S. anti-TIP campaign, and many local government agencies are involved. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, criminal prosecution of human traffickers has increased sharply in the United States in the last three years, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has dramatically increased our public awareness efforts. Despite a tremendous amount of positive action, there is more every country must do, including the United States, to accelerate our anti-human trafficking efforts.