STOP REFUGEE EXPLOITATION NOW!

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I have been observing the increasing sexual exploitation of refugees in Kampala. The concerns are increasingly worrying. This is no longer rumor as it has become a common problem for many. Sexual exploitation is now openly discussed among young female asylum seekers who are regularly being pressurized or asked to do sexual favors and/or to pay bribe by refugee workers employees of intergovernmental agencies in Kampala, otherwise their case can be delayed and/or even disappear.

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I, myself, have experienced the pressure and I am outraged by the behavior of some male refugee workers/officers and their madiators who directly and/or indirectly ask for sexual favors in order to speed up my asylum case.

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I have also been in contact with several other young females, especially from Ethiopia and Eritrea who have categorically been under similar pressure by these Ugandan officers who deal with asylum cases.

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Many of these young women have language barrier and lack of information which make them totally dependent on refugee workers to acquire knowledge about their rights and status. This dependency makes them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. In many cases, dependency on refugee workers has led to personalized communication resulting unprofessional conducts by some of these officers who have taken advantage of these young women.
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Already prior to arriving Uganda, a great number of these young women, including myself, had to handle with serious dramatization: violence, imprisonment, torture, oppression and fear of being discovered during flight. Asylum seekers in general leave their homeland both to get protection from repressive regimes and in order to claim their internationally recognized rights for protection through the UNHCR.

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It obvious that the exploitation of female asylum seekers and refugees is well known by these international agencies, NGOs and the UNHCR. Unfortunately, their failure to address the assistance needed adequately, especially for younge female asylum seekers, has resulted in serious consequences in the form of sexual exploitation and prostitution.
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There are a number of accounted cases in Kampala where female asylum seekers have been forced into prostitution because they have been asked by refugee workers to pay bribe.
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These girls go through high risks of infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS, which accompanies all sexual exploitation against these young women. Lack of knowledge and lack of income to use the health services worsen the impact of diseases and chances for treatment.

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While the Ugandan people in general are welcoming, peaceful and generous, there are, unfortunately, few civil servants/refugee workers who use their authority to selfishly take advantage of asylum seekers who desperately need their help to seek protection.
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It is inexcusable for those authorities involved including those international agencies to keep silent as they already know about these abuses.

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Something has to be done soon!

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Seblework Tadesse