Mafikeng: As part of educating public about human trafficking issues, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in conjunction with the Justice Crime Prevention Security Cluster (JCPS) Cluster will host non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Media Workshop at Mafikeng Foundation Stone on 28 May 2010.
Human Trafficking is the fastest growing organised crime in the world today. Human Trafficking is a crime that occurs through a process of recruitment (such as abduction, kidnapping, fraud, false promise, deception); transportation (air, rail, ship or land); exploitation (sexual exploitation, prostitution, sex tourism, pornography, forced labour, illegal activities (such as begging, selling drugs, debt bondage), child soldiers, forced marriage, adoption (sales), body parts). Wherever it takes place the procedure is similar, young girls and boys are taken from one place to another by someone who enslaves them and years of exploitation and abuse follow. It is the third largest criminal industry in the world; it is on par with drugs trafficking.
In response to being informed that we were the third province nationally for recruiting victims of human trafficking, the stakeholders agreed that it was imperative that we should establish an inter sectoral strategy for combating human trafficking in the province dubbed “together we can”.
“Having established that there were pocket of interventions that were not coordinated centrally to combat human trafficking during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, that there was a potential increase of human trafficking during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we committed to develop an Integrated Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, coordinated by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD), South African Police Services (SAPS), Department of Home Affairs (DHA), Department of Health and Social Development, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and faith based organisations (FBO). That partnership is critical in combating human trafficking in the province with government departments, civil society, business, municipalities and the media” explains Ms Raesibe Tladi Director Legal Services.
“Rustenburg in North West is the FIFA 2010 World Cup host city. Because schools will be closed and there is a possibility of high incidence of human trafficking and other cases. Hence the strategy aimed to address three pillars, training, prevention and awareness, attendance of media is critical to inform our community members on human trafficking issues” concluded Regional Head Mr Tsietsi Malema.
Members of media are invited to capture this historic workshop.
Media enquiries can be directed to:
Mr Isaac Mokaila
Tel: 018 389 8355
Cell: 073 742 3906
Issued by: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
26 May 2010
