Non-profit organisation (NPO) A21 South Africa has welcomed the increased human trafficking awareness efforts by government.
This comes after the Chairperson of Committees in the Gauteng Legislature, Dulton Adams earlier launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness and combating the growing crisis of human trafficking in the province.
A21 South Africa’s Reach Coordinator Chene Fourie says Gauteng is a popular hub for human trafficking recruitment.
“Human trafficking happens in every country, every province and almost every community. But the one thing that all victims of human trafficking have in common is vulnerability. Traffickers feed off vulnerability. When we talk about vulnerabilities, we are referring to systemic vulnerabilities. So, the things we cannot change such as the GDP of the country, the levels of corruption, access to running water, but also intrinsic vulnerabilities such as your personal level of education, your job, previous abuse or trauma.”
In August, the Department of Social Development said it is focused on protecting children and fighting human trafficking.
It said children make up a large number of trafficking victims globally and girls are affected even more.
The Department said traffickers use the internet and social media to target and exploit children.
Social Development Spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant said, “The role of the Department of Social Development in prevention and combating of traffic in persons Act number seven of 2013, is identification of victims of provision of care and support for healing from the trauma of exportation by traffickers.
The Department of Social Development has also developed standards of care which are used for assessment of all service providers to victims of trafficking. These standards informed tools that are used for assessment of service providers that are accredited to provide services to victims of trafficking”.
Addition reporting from Channel Africa
