The trafficking in human beings has become a growing phenomenon in the world in general and in Burundi in particular. In order to equip operators of the hotline "109" with the required knowledge to identify potential victims, the Burundi Red Cross (BRC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are jointly organizing workshops on trafficking in human beings. This is because one of the objectives of the "109" is to contribute to humanitarian accountability to communities affected by natural disasters or those caused by man in Burundi. As human trafficking is a scourge considered as modern slavery, the time has come to make the "109" hotline operators first-class agents who interact with victims or affected communities.
The IOM trainer, Isabelle Rusuku, says the choice of the hotline operators is dictated by the objective of the creation of the "109" which is the reinforcement of the humanitarian response by promoting the communication in two ways between affected communities and the humanitarian community actors, the IOM and the Burundi Red Cross included. She added: "The fight must be based on prevention through awareness-raising campaigns, protection by ensuring safety, medical and psychological assistance to victims, the pursuit of perpetrators and finally partnership through bilateral agreements and national, regional and international cooperation. "
The main cause of human trafficking is linked to the demand for labor which is cheaper, flexible and unprotected. Ignorance, war, and conflicts are also related causes. There are many consequences of trafficking in human beings. These include human rights violations, stigmatization and the country's poor image. According to the association fighting against human trafficking in Burundi (FENADEB), more than 1,000 people have reportedly been victims of human trafficking from 2011 to 2016. The International Labor Organization, for its part, numbers 2,450,000 people victims every year in the world.