News / National
Concerns raised over unaccompanied and separated children migrants
22 Mar 2022 at 08:58hrs | Views
CHILDREN'S rights groups are worried over Unaccompanied minors and separated children that have become a common feature at the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa amid concerns over rampant smuggling of persons across the borders.
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in a statement noted that the Zimbabwe-South Africa Cross border migration management stakeholders held a meeting recently at Musina South Africa where this was discussed.
IOM and various government departments and ministries from both countries, including Health, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, among others attended.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Aaron Nhepera last year said Zimbabwe continues to be confronted by an influx of irregular migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and child migrants presenting a challenge to migration management and protection of stakeholders.
IOM reports that Save the Children, a Children's rights organisation, raised concerns over how the forum works.
"Coordination - Save the Children raised a question on the Cross Border Forum for Unaccompanied minors and separated children and how it related to the Zimbabwe-SA Migration Management Stakeholders Forum," reads the report.
"The Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare reported that the Cross-border forum for UAMs is a subcommittee of the Zim- SA migration management stakeholders forum and should be feeding information into the parent forum."
"Similarly, there was a migration health stakeholders' forum that was also a subcommittee of the parent forum. Coordination and exchange of information between two forums is critical to ensure that there is no confusion among stakeholders and that there is coherence."
Last year the government revealed that pursuant to acceding to the Palermo Protocol on December 13, 2013, Zimbabwe has since enacted the Trafficking in Persons Act , 2014 to provide for the prohibition of victims of trafficking.
It stated that ever since joining the United Nations Protocol and subsequently enacting the TIP Act, the government has stepped up its efforts to combat human trafficking.
The IOM reported that a question was raised on whether the Forum has Terms of Reference and agreement signed between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"Terms of Reference for the Zimbabwe-South Africa Migration Management Stakeholders Cross Border Forum was signed by the two countries and guides the operations of the forum," reads the report.
"Stakeholders raised concern over alleged impropriety by Zimbabwean and South African security officials manning the check points on either side of the bridge, with officers allegedly facilitating the crossing of irregular migrants for a fee. It was noted that the security sector in both countries needed to urgently address this vice."
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in a statement noted that the Zimbabwe-South Africa Cross border migration management stakeholders held a meeting recently at Musina South Africa where this was discussed.
IOM and various government departments and ministries from both countries, including Health, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, among others attended.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Aaron Nhepera last year said Zimbabwe continues to be confronted by an influx of irregular migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and child migrants presenting a challenge to migration management and protection of stakeholders.
IOM reports that Save the Children, a Children's rights organisation, raised concerns over how the forum works.
"Coordination - Save the Children raised a question on the Cross Border Forum for Unaccompanied minors and separated children and how it related to the Zimbabwe-SA Migration Management Stakeholders Forum," reads the report.
"Similarly, there was a migration health stakeholders' forum that was also a subcommittee of the parent forum. Coordination and exchange of information between two forums is critical to ensure that there is no confusion among stakeholders and that there is coherence."
Last year the government revealed that pursuant to acceding to the Palermo Protocol on December 13, 2013, Zimbabwe has since enacted the Trafficking in Persons Act , 2014 to provide for the prohibition of victims of trafficking.
It stated that ever since joining the United Nations Protocol and subsequently enacting the TIP Act, the government has stepped up its efforts to combat human trafficking.
The IOM reported that a question was raised on whether the Forum has Terms of Reference and agreement signed between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"Terms of Reference for the Zimbabwe-South Africa Migration Management Stakeholders Cross Border Forum was signed by the two countries and guides the operations of the forum," reads the report.
"Stakeholders raised concern over alleged impropriety by Zimbabwean and South African security officials manning the check points on either side of the bridge, with officers allegedly facilitating the crossing of irregular migrants for a fee. It was noted that the security sector in both countries needed to urgently address this vice."
Source - Byo24News
