As the world commemorated the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July 2026, Eye of the Child joined government, civil society organisations, communities, and development partners in Lilongwe to renew the fight against human trafficking in Malawi.
This year’s global theme “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime End the Exploitation” highlights that trafficking is not an isolated act but a serious, organised crime that robs people of their freedom, dignity, and future.
In a statement released today, Asiyatu James, Marketing and Public Relations Officer for Eye of the Child, said the organisation locally adopted the campaign theme “Trapped Behind the Scam”to draw attention to the deceptive methods traffickers use.
According to the organisation, many victims are lured through false promises of jobs, education, marriage, or better opportunities.
“Increasingly, these scams are spread through social media and fake recruitment agencies,” James explained.
She added that children, women, and young people remain the most vulnerable due to poverty, unemployment, limited education, and lack of information. Eye of the Child noted that this reality makes community awareness and prevention efforts more urgent than ever across districts in Malawi.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to preventing trafficking through public awareness, survivor support, and family reintegration. It also pledged to strengthen partnerships with government, law enforcement agencies, traditional leaders, schools, faith organisations, and development partners to close gaps that traffickers exploit.
Eye of the Child has urged government to strengthen laws, improve victim protection, and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
Communities and families have been asked to stay alert, verify suspicious job or travel offers, and report suspected cases. Parents and caregivers were encouraged to educate children about online safety and the dangers of deceptive recruitment.
The organisation also called on employers and recruitment agencies to promote ethical recruitment and protect workers from exploitation. Young people were advised to be cautious of unrealistic offers shared on social media or by strangers, while the media was urged to continue raising awareness and report trafficking cases responsibly while protecting survivors’ dignity.
“Human trafficking thrives on deception and silence. Together, we can stop exploitation by raising awareness, protecting vulnerable people, supporting survivors, and ensuring traffickers are held accountable,”_ James stressed.
She added that every child deserves to live free from abuse and exploitation.
Eye of the Child concluded by urging Malawians to report any suspected trafficking to the police, saying collective action is needed to expose scams, protect the vulnerable, and end human trafficking.
