The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Kumbo has called on the Cameroon government to open investigations into the trafficking of Cameroonians to the Middle East, especially Kuwait.

The commission rallied Christians and non-Christians, September 9, from across Bui and Donga Mantung divisions for a unity march against trafficking in persons.

The rally preceded from Kumbo Squares, through Mbveh Motor Park, Njavnyuy Motor Park and Meluf village to Tobin roundabout. The walk culminated into an ecumenical service conducted by clergymen of mainstream churches in Kumbo.

Participants could be seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as: “Human trafficking is a crime and punishable by law,” “No to modern slavery,” Human life is not for sale” and “Beware of traffickers.”

Speaking at the event, the coordinator of the Justice and Peace Commission Vanaja Jasphine called on all and sundry to join the commission in fighting against human trafficking till it ends. She lauded the collaboration of the population.

According to Jasphine, human trafficking is provoked by the high demand for sex, cheap labour and quest for money.

Jasphine noted that 700,000 people are enslaved globally every year. She added that statistics gathered from family members in Bui and Donga Mantung divisions show that 40 girls and women have been trafficked, yet many families are reluctant to declare.

Against this backdrop, the Catholic commission presented a petition to the government of Cameroon through the senior divisional officer for Bui, Nzeki Theophile.

The petition calls on government to strictly enforce the 2011 law against human trafficking in Cameroon. Also, they are calling on government to open an investigation into the Kuwait issue in order to dismantle the seemingly well- organized and coordinated network put in place by the traffickers.

The network, the petitioners stated, range from recruitment, processing of documents, transportation, reception and distribution of victims in Kuwait.

The Catholic justice and peace commission is also demanding government to cause her friendly nations’ embassies/consulates in Kuwait to carry out a census of Cameroonians living and working in their area of competence so as to determine their numbers, living and working conditions as well as identify their hosts and/or employers.

Another plea is for Cameroon to implore diplomatic services in Cameroon and Kuwait to regulate the issuance of visas and keep a watchful eye on those requesting visas, especially Visa 20; connoting slaves in the Middle East. Such diplomatic missions on request of the government of Cameroon, the petitioners said, should conduct thorough interviews before granting visas.

Moreover, government has been called upon to engage the government of Kuwait in facilitating the repatriation of suffering Cameroonian women and girls. “Government should make room for social rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into the society. A special unit within the government structure should be put in place to fight against this social ill that is a toll on the socio-economic, cultural and political development of our country and above all trampling on the human rights and dignity of our people,” part of the petition reads.

While receiving the petition, Nzeki Theophile called on the population to be bold and courageous enough to denounce human trafficking. He said modern enslavement of people is an inhuman and malicious act that has to be denounced in its entirety.

During the occasion, two victims who were battered and tormented in Kuwait recounted their ordeal.