Statement of the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, at the Handover Ceremony of the Shelter for Victims of Trafficking in Eswatini

Your Excellency, Ambassador of the United States of America,

Principal Secretaries,

IOM Regional Director for Southern Africa,

Head of Office at IOM in Eswatini,

Government officials,

UN colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is with the utmost humility and indeed, an honour, that I am here today at the Handover Ceremony of the Shelter for Victims of Trafficking in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Today marks an historic moment for our nation as we seek to ensure that nobody is left behind in our recovery from COVID-19, particularly the innocent victims of human trafficking.

As the UN Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, stated: “Trafficking in persons is a vile crime that feeds on inequalities, instability and conflict. Human traffickers profit from peoples’ hopes and despair. They prey on the vulnerable and rob them of their fundamental rights”.

We must therefore make every effort, with ambition and dedication, to protect persons who are vulnerable to human trafficking, especially children, young people, migrants and refugees. Women and girls are often targeted by human traffickers for purposes of sexual exploitation, whilst trade in human organs: a crime that should simply not exist, results in the loss of lives of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.

Each year, the Kingdom of Eswatini loses EmaSwati to human trafficking, oftentimes to neighbouring countries South Africa and Mozambique. Between 2016 and 2018, 50 victims of human trafficking were detected, although this number is expected to be far more devastating. Our women and girls, once again, find themselves as targets, with promises of education and decent work across the borders.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the vulnerability of children, young people, migrants and refugees. Lockdown measures and restricted movements, economic downturns and school closures, have led to the loss of livelihoods for many informal workers; worsened health conditions, particularly for migrant workers; and made our children more vulnerable than ever before.

Our nation’s people are in need of protection, such which begins with the assurance of access to every human right for all, including “access to adequate shelter”.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to witness the commitment of His Majesty’s Government to the innocent victims of Trafficking in Persons, through today’s handover of a refurbished shelter for Victims of Trafficking. Under the guidance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Eswatini, and support of the United States of America, this shelter will serve to allow both EmaSwati and our international brothers and sisters who fall victim to human trafficking, to have their cases recorded, and ultimately be sent home to safety.

It is notable that under the United Nations Sustainable Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025, our leading instrument to create a better future for all EmaSwati, Human Trafficking remains a national priority of utmost importance. It brings great encouragement to see the ambitious efforts continuously made by the Government, USA, IOM and partners to overcome this heinous practice. This shelter is therefore a small but significant step towards protecting Victims of Trafficking, and I encourage all partners present today to continue their pursuit to end Human Trafficking and support victims to live better lives.

In the wise words of Irish statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke; “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. L’est we forget those for whom we are here today.

I thank you.