HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ACTIVITY ONE

Human trafficking is the action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country
or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labour or sexual exploitation. Human
trafficking involves recruitment, harbouring or transporting people into a situation of
exploitation through the use of violence, deception or coercion and forcing them to work
against their will. In other words, trafficking is a process of enslaving people, coercing them
into a situation with no way out, and exploiting them. People can be trafficked for many
different forms of exploitation such as forced prostitution, forced labour, forced
begging, forced criminality, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and forced organ removal.
46 women were rescued in Johannesburg on the 19th of June 2018 after police smashed a
human trafficking syndicate. Some of the women say that they were locked up in a room
since January. Most of them were abducted while making their way home from work at
Johannesburg Park Station and surrounds. Park Station has been a hub where women and
children get abducted. There's a lot of movement happening and criminals take advantage
of that. Young people get lured to the CBD to meet someone for a job interview and realise
that it is human trafficking when they find themselves locked up in a room in Hillbrow.

I believe that South Africa needs a concerted effort to develop an effective joint strategy
which combines individual efforts in preventing and combating human trafficking in the
country, which has become a major concern and one of the fastest-growing social
ills. Trafficking in persons is still one of South Africa’s most atrocious realities that,
unfortunately, still looms and compromises the safety of men, women and children. It is
tearing at the social fabric of the nation as the demand for cheap labour and sexual services
keeps growing.
The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013. The legislation
criminalizes various acts that constitute or relate to trafficking in persons and imposes harsh
penalties for violations. The legislation provides certain protections for victims of human
trafficking, including foreigners. It provides that a victim of trafficking may not be charged
for violating immigration law, for carrying forged documents, or for other crimes that
he/she was compelled to commit by his/her captors.

The legislation criminalizes various acts that constitute or relate to trafficking in persons and
imposes harsh penalties for violations. Trafficking in persons is punishable by a maximum of
life imprisonment.
It imposes a duty on Internet service providers to prevent the use of their services to
support trafficking in persons (including advertising or promoting of trafficking in persons),
to report to the South African Police Service when they discover such uses, and to take
measures to suppress such use. Failure to comply is an offense punishable by up to five
years of imprisonment.
The legislation gives South African courts extra-territorial jurisdiction in certain
circumstances
Discussions at a Club or Community Group

Create a group that people who wish to help victims of human rights violations such as
human trafficking as well as the victims themselves can join. This will create a safe,
comfortable environment that will provide support and comfort to the victims. It will also
provide mental calm to victims by helping them to open up and share their stories as well as
building trust in each other. A club can help victims by working together to end the rights
violation through awareness, action, and dialogue you can plan events and outreach to
further spread your message.
Hold an Event to Raise Awareness

Events promote awareness and raise money to assist victims of human rights violations such
as human trafficking. Spreading the word about trafficking can help others gain a better
understanding of what’s really going on.

Launch a Research Project

Investigating human trafficking can help you and others gain insight into the world of human
rights violations. Your findings can educate others on how to avoid becoming victims and
also how to identify the signs that someone they know is a victim and how to seek
assistance from the correct authorities. Research helps the victims of human rights
violations, by making them aware of their rights, the laws and the organisations which can
be used to bring justice to them.

Campaign to Lobby Local Policymakers

Reach out to your local politicians. Schedule a meeting with them to emphasize why human
rights violations such as human trafficking should be on their priority list and suggest ways
they can help end this problem in your community—as well as across the nation and around
the world. By contacting the people who can make immediate change through the passing
of laws thousands of victims can be saved.

LAW
It can provide for accredited social service institutions, which will assist in reporting,
identifying and assessing victims of trafficking. Provisions should be made for places of
safety for victims and protective measures for child victims. There can be regulations that
prescribe a set of guidelines to ensure minimum standards are complied with by accredited
organisations rendering services to victims of trafficking. The enactment and
implementation of comprehensive legislation will facilitate an environment where
structures are created to collect data on trafficking in persons, establish the extent of the
problem, and evaluate whether measures to combat trafficking is effective.

CITIZEN
Learn the indicators of human trafficking so you can help identify a potential trafficking
victim. Human trafficking awareness training is available for individuals, businesses, first
responders, law enforcement, educators, and federal employees, among others.
Be a conscientious and informed consumer. Discover your slavery footprint, ask who picked
your tomatoes or made your clothes, or check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods
Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Encourage companies to take steps to investigate
and prevent human trafficking in their supply chains and publish the information, including
supplier or factory lists, for consumer awareness.

COMMUNITY
Organise anti-trafficking efforts as a community.
Host an awareness-raising event to watch and discuss films about human trafficking. For
example, learn how modern slavery exists today; watch an investigative documentary
about sex trafficking; or discover how human trafficking can affect global food supply chains.

ACTIVITY 3
1. Leaving a place of poverty to gain wealth
Many victims want to get out of their situation, so they risk everything to leave the place
that sees them mired in poverty. This gives the human traffickers bait to lure victims to
move to a different country.
Traffickers lie, promising jobs and stability in order to recruit their victims. Upon their
arrival to another state or region, captors take control. More often than not, they are held in
places where victims did not to want to make their home.
The practice of entrusting poor children to more affluent friends or relatives may create
vulnerability. Some parents sell their children, not just for money, but in hope that their
children may escape poverty and have a better life with more opportunities.

2. Political conditions
Political instability, militarism, generalized violence or civil unrest can result in an increase in
trafficking as well. The destabilization and scattering of populations increase their
vulnerability to unfair treatment and abuse via trafficking and forced labor. Armed conflicts
can lead to massive forced displacements of people. War creates large numbers of orphans
and street children who are especially vulnerable to trafficking. Their families have either
passed away or are fighting a war, complicating child-rearing.
Women and children are targets.
In some societies, the devaluation of women and children make them far more vulnerable
to trafficking than men. Traditional attitudes and practices, early marriage and lack of birth
registration further increase the susceptibility of women and children. They are also
targeted because of the demand for women in sex trafficking. A report by Equality Now
states that 20.9 million adults and children are bought and sold worldwide into commercial
sexual servitude, forced labor and bonded labor. Women and girls make up 98 percent of
the victims trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Raising awareness
A Multi-sectorial national task team set up by the government will embark on an aggressive
educational awareness campaign building up to Child Protection Week, which runs from 27
May to 2 June. The team has spearheaded the development of the National Action Plan to
fight human trafficking in South Africa.
Laws
At a roundtable held by the Department of Social Development, the stakeholders looked at
ways to implement the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, as well as
find new ways to combat human trafficking. The Act was signed into law in July 2013. While
South Africa has put in place legislative measures to prevent human trafficking, the country
is still a source, transit point, and destination country for men and women subjected to
trafficking for forced labour and sexual exploitation. . In addition to the laws, the country
had ratified international treaties which affirm the rights of South Africans. Laws defending
victims had been developed and passed but needed to be implemented. In response, the
Organised Crime Unit of the South African Police Services has set up the Human Trafficking
Desk for a targeted response to the crime
Therapeutic programmes
Victims need assistance that extends beyond the end of their exploitation and any criminal
prosecution. Vocational training can reduce the risk of them being sucked into exploitative
situations again. Trafficking victims are accepted as apprentices for periods of six months to
a year to gain on-the-job training in factory work, hospitality and other businesses. South
Africa has developed therapeutic programmes targeting children that will contribute to
economic development through vocational skills, programmes that empower the youth and
expose them to economic opportunities. Cabinet recently adopted the second chance
programme which intends to address the female children affected by human rights
violations who have dropped out of school, granting them an opportunity to further their
studies.
Intervention programmes
In 2012, the government established an inter-ministerial committee on violence against
women and children to respond to the challenges of violence in the country. The
comprehensive strategy was developed to prevent acts of violence. She said the department
had embarked on various intervention programmes for those affected by human rights
violations.

COMMUNITY

The Salvation Army actively gets South African communities involved with programmes that
support victims of hum rights violations such as human trafficking. Communities support
them by: Actively raising awareness within the community; Speaking out and educating
those around you; raising funds; signing petitions and writing to politicians. Community
members are not powerless against modern slavery. Individuals can learn to recognize the
signs of human trafficking and know where to go for help when they see it. They can
educate others on the tactics of traffickers; demand that local authorities and other
professionals be trained to address the crime and take appropriate action; and contribute
their time, money, and talents to the issue.

Religion
Human trafficking is becoming a shared concern for religious leaders, who have taken a
common initiative to raise awareness among business and policy-makers against “modern
slavery”. First steps have been taken under a new framework, set up in March this year,
called the ‘Global Freedom Network’. Since a first symposium held at the Vatican in
November 2013 gathering governments, NGOs, academics and religious experts from
worldwide, Anglican followed by Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu leaders
have joined the campaign. Faith leaders are not expected play a meaningful role in raising
awareness about human rights violations.
Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking: FAAST is a joint effort of several Christian
organizations against human trafficking. It is an arm of the group World Relief, which also
seeks to help refugees of all kinds. The group provides training and research as well as
promoting collaboration between member organizations on the issue

ACTIVITY 4
Media can play a major role in protecting and promoting human rights in the world. It can
make people aware of the need to promote certain values in the cause of human rights
which are of eternal value to the mankind. Peace, non-violence, disarmament,
maintenance and promotion of ecological balances and unpolluted environment and
ensuring human rights to all irrespective of caste, colour and creed should be the
minimum common agenda for the media.
Media can also give publicity to the individuals and organisations, which are engaged
in securing human rights. This will encourage as well as motivate others to do the similar
work. Media can suggest ways and means by which they can solve their problems and
thus empowering them to protect their rights. Since media plays the role of
communication between the state and the public, it can also play an effective role of
making the authorities aware of their duties. Social media is increasingly helpful in monitoring
emerging human rights emergencies.
Social media violates people’s human rights through hacking. People’s lives are violated
because hackers access their personal information. This is against that person’s human right
to privacy and therefore is exposed and violated. Social media gives people an easy gateway
for spying and snooping through other people's information.

When contents posted on social media pose danger to society, the need to regulate arises
and responsibility of people as well as those posting it becomes important. In India, more
than 20 corer use WhatsApp and even more Facebook. Thus, false news rumours can be
spread easily. Even real incidents posted on social media have caused several deaths of
innocent persons. The brutal lynching of a 26 year old man on suspicion of child lifting made
rounds on social media. The brazen uploading of videos showing gross human rights
violations reflect apathy of the administration and fearlessness of criminals in committing
horrors and shamelessly load them on social media. Social media is the new serial killer,
violating the right to live, the right to justice and the right to not be slandered/defamed.
Media has a very important role in reporting human rights violations. It acts as a reflection
of the society and thus, reporting these will increase the awareness of the existence of such
atrocities. People are of the general opinion that human rights violations like genital
mutilation and inhuman discrimination in the name of caste are things of the past. In such a
situation, media can bridge this gap of information and bring these to the forefront, thus
urging people to do something about these, resulting in a social change. Social media is
increasingly helpful in monitoring emerging human rights emergencies thus it can be used
to bring new human rights violations to the attention of the government and other
organizations. This ensures theprotection of these human rights.

Everyone reads newspaper or watches news on television. These days people are more on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. All these social media platforms upload latest news and
general public can read news and give these feedbacks. Thus, social media can make or
break anyone's image for example corruption can be controlled if we upload videos of
corrupt politicians. We can upload videos that we think are important for knowledge.The
media play a very vital role in the flow of information in the society. so media companies
have the responsibility of ensuring all news spread on it is completely true. The media has
to make sure not to misuse the freedom of press

Sometimes people use of social media to tarnish someone's image. There are several cyber
laws that help you to fight for human rights. Social media companies have the responsibility
of protecting users from online harassment and providing them with safe, user friendly
methods of reporting online rights violations. In the media it is important to maintain the
dignity of a person or a victim in case there has been a violation reported. It should be
understood that human rights are to be in the favour of people and its violations should be
reported honestly to make sure the violator is punished appropriately. Devotion, Discipline,
and Dedication have been said to be the 3 vital roles which the media should play while
reporting a human right violating act.

The media have the power in affecting the public opinion about an issue. So it should report
a violation without partisan slanting or bias. The facts should be the headline and the
actual violation of the law should be reported reason being if they leave it at what
happened it does not give the viewers context or even validity. Quoting the laws violated
makes it more solid, any comments on the ethics should be included at the end.
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT PRACTICES

Analyze, develop, and implement measures to identify, prevent and reduce the risk of human
trafficking in government procurement supply chains. Additionally, governments can: provide tools
and incentives and adopt risk assessment policies and procedures that require their procurement
officers and contractors to assess the nature and extent of potential exposure to human trafficking in
their supply chains; and take targeted action, including adopting appropriate due diligence
processes, to identify, prevent, mitigate, remedy, and account for how they address human
trafficking.

GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS

Work in partnership with business, workers and survivors to set clear expectations for private sector
entities on their responsibility to conduct appropriate due diligence in their supply chains to identify,
prevent, and mitigate human trafficking. Governments can also provide tools and incentives to the
private sector to encourage meaningful action and public reporting of their efforts, including through
programs, policies or legislation.

GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ADVANCE RESPONSIBLE RECRUITMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Advance responsible recruitment practices, including by implementing policies that incentivize and
support responsible practices, and by supporting initiatives such as the “Employer Pays Principle”.
Governments can also contribute to the growing knowledge base of promising practices for
protecting workers from fraud and exploitation in the recruitment process.

GOVERNMENTS SHOULD STRIVE FOR HARMONIZATION

Make reasonable efforts to share information and work with other committed governments to align
existing and proposed laws, regulations and policies to combat human trafficking in global supply
chains.

While the government has made tremendous strides in the fight against human trafficking and other
human rights violations through the passing of various laws and other programmes, the issues still
prevail in society. The government must amplify its attempts in order to bring an end to human
trafficking in south Africa.
Encourage your local schools to partner with students and include modern slavery in their curricula.
As a parent, educator, or school administrator, be aware of how traffickers target school-aged
children.

Be well-informed. Set up a web alert to receive current human trafficking news. Become familiar
with public awareness materials available from the Department of Health and Human Services or the
Department of Homeland Security.

Work with a local religious community or congregation to help stop trafficking by supporting a
victim service provider or spreading awareness of human trafficking.

different peple in differmnt carrers can use their careers to help fight against human trafficking and
oither human right violations for exampke Attorneys: Offer human trafficking victims legal services,
including support for those seeking benefits or special immigration status.
While some communities stand together in the fight against human trafficking and oither human
rigyhts violations, other communities still remain divided. Communities need to increase their efforts
to bring the community together to take stand against these violations and have an actual impact.
 ACTIVITY 6: REFERNCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/human-trafficking/
http://www.702.co.za/articles/308313/human-trafficking-rife-in-south-africa-with-more-
women-lured-into-dens
https://www.themuse.com/advice/take-action-7-ways-to-join-the-fight-against-human-
trafficking
https://www.gov.za/documents/prevention-and-combating-trafficking-persons-act
https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/governance/developmentnews/trafficking-230312
http://www.derebus.org.za/protecting-victims-human-trafficking-south-africa-enough/
https://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/
– https://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Toolkit-files/08-58296_tool_9-
2.pdf
http://centerforglobalimpact.org/cgi-kids/4-causes-of-human-trafficking/

https://borgenproject.org/5-causes-of-human-trafficking/

https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/governance/services/rights/trafficking-240215

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/government-outlines-plans-to-tackle-human-trafficking/

https://blogs.state.gov/stories/2018/06/28/en/power-local-communities-fight-against-
human-trafficking

https://www.salvationarmy.org.za/anti-human-trafficking/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/02/the-role-of-faith-leaders-in-ending-human-
trafficking/

http://www.presscouncil.nic.in/OldWebsite/speechpdf/The%20Role%20of%20Media%20in
%20Protection%20of%20Human%20Rights%20Visakhapatnam.pdf

https://brainly.com/question/3658453

https://sabrangindia.in/article/social-media-and-violation-human-rights
https://brainly.in/question/3765816

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/other/2018/286125.htm