IOM, in partnership with Oasis Zimbabwe, a faith-based organization
in Zimbabwe, is launching a national toll-free counter-trafficking
hotline next week where victims of human trafficking and their
families can get assistance, instances of human trafficking be
reported and where information on the issue will be available. This
includes verification of different job and study opportunities.

The 0800-32 22222 number, supported by the Norwegian government
and effective from 2 December, will have operators from 07:00 until
19:00 with a 24-hour answering service.

The hotline is part of IOM's efforts to counter human
trafficking in the Southern African region through victim
assistance, research and data collection, awareness raising and
strengthening the institutional capacity of key stakeholders such
as government and civil society. The Organization has been working
to fight human trafficking in Zimbabwe since 2005.

Oasis Zimbabwe reaches out primarily to children and youth and
is part of a global movement called "Stop The Traffik". The
campaign has more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries
around the world working in areas of education, advocacy and
fundraising.

In addition to Oasis Zimbabwe, IOM is partnering with local
authorities and civil society organizations as part of a referral
system to assist victims of trafficking and conduct investigative
follow-up.

In Zimbabwe, men, women and children are recruited by either
people they know or strangers before being taken to an unfamiliar
place either within the country or across the border where they are
then exploited. IOM has assisted Zimbabwean victims of trafficking
that were taken to South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Egypt, the
United Kingdom, the United States and China where they suffered
sexual exploitation, forced labour and/or forced marriage.

For additional information please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Zimbabwe

Tel: +263 912 572 315

E-mail: "mailto:efoster@iom.int">efoster@iom.int