A German-funded initiative targeting organized crimes in collaboration with authorities in West and Central Africa has rescued 500 victims of human trafficking in a series of raids.
According to Interpol, the victims, made up of 236 children were, rescued in Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal.
Interpol Police Inspector, Yoro Traore, said the Operation Sparrowhawk has “opened a number of on-going investigations to further disrupt the crime networks involved in trafficking human beings”.
A foreign mission
The Operation Sparrowhawk is an on-going French military presence in Chad. It is also the name given to the on-going operation targeting human trafficking gangs across Africa’s Sahel region as the fight against human trafficking intensifies.
The International Office for Migration (IOM) and a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are also involved in the operation, giving counseling to victims rescued.
United Nations concerned
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, while addressing the Security Council Meeting on human trafficking said, the international community has a collective responsibility in curtailing criminals and terrorists from preying on vulnerable populations and migrants.
“Their brutality knows no bounds: sexual exploitation, forced labour, the removal of bodily organs and slavery are the tools of their trade. We must act urgently to protect the human rights and dignity of migrant populations, bring the perpetrators to justice, and increase humanitarian aid,” he added.
Guterres also called for urgent action to combat human trafficking and protect the human rights of migrants by bringing violators to justice and immediately increase humanitarian aid.
In September, new research showed that more than 40 million people around the world were victims of modern slavery in 2016 — with women and girls accounting for almost 29 million or (71%). The research was conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the U.N.’s migration agency.
Africa is reported to have the highest rate of modern slavery with 7.6 persons per thousand.