Indaba to highlight and strengthen national and cross border issues on human trafficking
As part of this year’s #16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, the Department of Social Development will host a National Human Trafficking Indaba in Mpumalanga Province.
The Indaba brings together over 200 representatives of intersectoral organisations working to prevent and eliminate all forms of human trafficking, including cross border trafficking issues. Representatives of UN agencies such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), including government representatives from the neighbouring countries of Mozambique and eSwatini.
The Department of Social Development is part of the Cross Border Forum on Human Trafficking, which promotes sharing of best practice models, research findings, policy and programmatic responses on national and cross border cooperation on preventing human trafficking. The Department renders services to victims of human trafficking through its Victim Empowerment Programme.
Research findings from a study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in 2010 into the Dimensions of Human Trafficking in Southern Africa identified four key human trafficking patterns. These are trafficking to South Africa from outside of Africa; trafficking to South Africa from within Africa; trafficking within the national borders of South Africa (domestic human trafficking); and trafficking that uses South Africa as a transit point to other countries.
The findings also show that women and children, particularly the girl-child constitute the largest group of victims trafficked from within the continent and within national borders. Research also shows an inextricable connection between human trafficking and other forms of human rights violations, including prostitution, pornography, forced marriage, domestic servitude, forced labour, begging, and criminal activity including drug trafficking.
As a signatory to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking and in response to the growing phenomenon, Government enacted the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act in 2013 to provide for the prosecution of offenders, prevent the trafficking of persons, provide protection for victims of trafficking and to provide effective enforcement measures.
As part of the National Indaba, the Department will also host the annual Service Excellence Awards to recognise the contribution of civil society and community-based organisations that render services to victims of crime and violence, including human trafficking.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event arranged as follows:
Date: 26 to 27 November 2018
Time: 09h00-18h00
Venue: Premier Hotel The Winkler, White River - Mpumalanga Province
Media can RSVP:
Justice Malapane
Cell: 064 806 6849
E-mail: JusticeD@dsd.gov.za
Felicia Ntuli
Cell: 076 313 5797
E-mail: FeliciaNT@dsdmpu.gov.za
Media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
