For years, Eye of the Child has been protecting children in Malawi from trafficking, child marriage, hazardous labour and other forms of abuse.
In an interview with The Truth Malawi, the organisation’s Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Asiyatu James, said its programmes have made a significant impact, with more than 18,000 children prevented from hazardous labour, over 3,000 victims rescued from exploitation and trafficking, and 21,291 girls rescued from early marriage.
James said Eye of the Child, which was the founding coordinator of the Malawi Network Against Trafficking in Persons (MNAT) in 2006, implements anti-human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation programmes through community awareness campaigns, joint rescue operations with the Malawi Police Service, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors.
She said the organisation’s Social Welfare and Case Management Department provides counselling, psychosocial support, health referrals and home visits. It also works with District Social Welfare Officers to ensure that rescued children are protected from returning to situations of exploitation.
“On child marriage, our organisation works with traditional leaders, mother groups and schools to prevent marriages, defilement and early pregnancies, while supporting victims with legal aid, school support and vocational training,” James said.
She also highlighted the Red Cord Project, which targets more than 4,000 street-connected children in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu. The project seeks to remove children from child labour, protect them from mob justice and abuse, and link them to education and shelter.
According to James, one of the organisation’s major achievements has been its contribution to the enactment of the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2015, which provides a legal framework for prosecuting traffickers and protecting victims.
The organisation is led by Executive Director Maxwell Matewere, a Global Hero Award recipient and author of Human Trafficking Exposed.
Eye of the Child is urging members of the public to report suspected cases of trafficking and child abuse to the organisation, Police Victim Support Units or Social Welfare offices. It is also appealing for support for survivors through business capital, school materials and other forms of assistance that can help them rebuild their lives.
The Malawi Government considers trafficking in persons a serious crime and a violation of human rights. In 2015, it enacted the Trafficking in Persons Act to provide for the prevention and prosecution of trafficking and the protection of victims.
Through the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Gender, the Government says it is implementing the National Action Plan Against Trafficking. The measures include strengthening border monitoring, training police and immigration officers, and working with organisations such as Eye of the Child through MNAT to rescue victims and raise public awareness.
Government has also established shelters and victim support services and continues to urge members of the public to report suspected cases of trafficking, child marriage and exploitation to the nearest Police Victim Support Unit or Social Welfare office, or through the national hotline.
Authorities have warned that anyone involved in trafficking will face prosecution under the law.
