LUSAKA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Thursday called for concerted efforts to tackle the problem of human trafficking in the southern African region.
The call comes following the rescue from Namibia of six teenage Zambian girls and a boy where they were allegedly trafficked to work as prostitutes and domestic workers.
The teenagers, from the western district of Senanga, were rescued following collaboration between the Zambian police and their Namibian counterparts.
Auxilia Ponga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, said the scourge needed concerted efforts to tackle as young women and girls were vulnerable to being trafficked as they could easily be coerced.
She said concerted efforts were needed by stakeholders to raise awareness on the dangers of the problem as it not only violates human rights but also exposes young people to diseases.
"Though the country is facing high levels of unemployment, families should be assertive and investigate suspicious offers of jobs within and outside the country. They should also report such cases to relevant authorities before accepting any such offers," she said in a statement released by her ministry.
She further expressed concern that Zambia was now a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking and called for the reinforcement of an anti-trafficking inter-ministerial committee to step up efforts to combat the vice.
