VZCZCXRO0067
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #0538 2111030
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301030Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7179
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LUSAKA 000538 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ZA PHUM
SUBJECT: LAUNCHING OF ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAW 
 
REF: REF: LUSAKA 102 
 
¶1. On July 28, 2009, the Zambian Minister of Home Affairs 
launched the Anti-Human Trafficking Law of 2008, this makes 
Zambia one of three SADC countries to enact such a law. 
Zambia recognizes the high threat human trafficking poses to 
marginalized citizens. In 2007, the International Labor 
Organization (ILO) conducted a study on Child Trafficking in 
Zambia, which reported Zambia is a source, transfer point, 
and destination country for human trafficking within the 
region. 
 
¶2. Amending the penal code to prosecute perpetrators in 2005 
was the Government of Zambia's (GRZ) first response to human 
trafficking. The GRZ took action again in September 2008, 
when the Zambian Parliament enacted Act 11 of 2008, otherwise 
known as Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2008. The Act drew 
heavily from the 2003 United Nations Protocol to Prevent, 
Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women 
and Children to develop clear-cut guidelines for widespread 
implementation, prosecution, and prevention in rural and 
urban areas. The Act requires a Human Trafficking Committee 
to establish national strategies against trafficking, work 
with ministries and NGOs, and advise ministers on related 
policy matters. The committee includes one representative 
from the following five ministries: Labor and Social 
Security; Gender and Women in Development; Sport, Youth and 
Development; Home Affairs; and Health. The Anti-Human 
Trafficking Act of 2008 also supplements the United Nations 
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, credited 
for defining human trafficking. 
 
¶3. The Anti-Human Trafficking Act institutes penalties, 
ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment, and sends strong 
messages to parents, as courts may suspend parental/guardian 
rights if trafficking suspected. Under the Act, government 
ministries are responsible for developing adult and children 
victim centers to provide counseling, rehabilitation, and 
education. The Ministry of Home Affairs must introduce public 
awareness programs to promote citizens' rights and publicized 
recruitment tactics commonly used by traffickers. If 
enforced, the Act could make major strides in reducing 
organized crime's prevalence in Zambia. There is no 
indication, however, that additional resources were made 
available for adequate enforcement in Zambia's current fiscal 
year (1/1/09 - 12/31/09). 
BOOTH