National carrier Kenya Airways in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) yesterday launched the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Policy and Public Awareness Campaign in a bid to raise awareness and curb human trafficking.
The Public Awareness and Outreach campaign is meant to educate Kenya Airways staff and the public about the misconceptions, the realities of human trafficking as well as how to identify and report cases of Human Trafficking.
Speaking at the event Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said his ministry will work with all stakeholders to develop, adopt and implement updated comprehensive National Action Plan to prevent trafficking, protect and provide support to victims and prosecute traffickers.
He also noted that the government has increased investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes, convicted more traffickers, increased personnel dedicated to specialised anti-trafficking police units and launched new hotline for reporting these crimes.
“I wish to commend Kenya Airways for the step they have taken to combat trafficking in persons. KQ has developed measures that have protected its systems from misuse to facilitate transportation of human trafficking victims,” he said.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore observed that global and criminal nature of trafficking in persons, prevention and response efforts require multi-disciplinary approach within and across sectors and borders.
“Transport is one of the important sectors in the fight against trafficking. The launch of the Kenya Airways Policy on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a clear testament of Kenya Airways’ commitment, as a key player in the airline industry, to strengthen our combined efforts in combatting trafficking in persons in the country and across the globe. It is no doubt that, the training and creation of awareness among the KQ airline staff, provided for in the policy, will build their capacity to proactively play their role in the fight against trafficking in persons,” she noted.
“My ministry remains committed to working with all players in the Trafficking in Persons cycle including KQ. I therefore call upon other related players in the transport sector to develop respective policies,” she added.
Kenya Airways Chief Financial Officer, Hellen Mwariri Mathuka noted that KQ does not condone any form of human trafficking and that the airline fully backs the elimination of the exploitation of human beings and modern slavery.
“Kenya Airways recognises that increased public awareness and education within organisations will provide more opportunities to recognise and aid in the fight against modern slavery,” she said.
She added that the airline will establish reporting mechanisms through which staff can report human trafficking cases and ensure that all employees are trained on the reporting protocol.
The fully endorsed Trafficking in Persons Policy came into effect in January 2023 and outlines the airlines stand and actions against Human Trafficking.
