Slave trade was abolished decades ago, yet Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Modern Slavery (MS) continues to exist in the shadows and beyond the reach of the law, putting millions at risk. Thousands of children, women, girls, and boys are trafficked and enslaved everyday across the globe. TIP and MS is one of the most tragic human rights issues of our time. It destroys families, undermines the rule of law, and increases other transnational criminal activity, Worst of all, TIP and MS robs victims of their freedom and dignity.
Due to economic hardship in the country many Ugandans are migrating in search of jobs. There is massive rural - urban migration from 2% - 4% annually in the country (World data Atlas, 2022). Similarly, there is massive migration of Ugandans to foreign countries, especially, to the Middle East in search of better paid work. Last year, 84,966 Ugandans left for Middle East in search of jobs (MoGLSD, 2022). This number excludes those trafficked. As they migrate in search for better paid jobs abroad some fall victims of TIP and MS - tortured, subjected to hard labour, never paid, and return to Uganda needy. The news of low pay, physical assaults, slavery and even death of the migrants bombard the public.
JPIIJPC have been tackling the vice of human trafficking since 2015 through the program “Combating Human Trafficking in Uganda”. The overall goal is to combat human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery in Uganda through creating awareness on the ongoing social evil of human trafficking for various groups and communities; promoting access to justice for victims of human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery; lobbying and advocating for policy formulation, review, and implementation to promote sustainable livelihoods for the vulnerable groups and survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery.