Population according to undp data, south africas population amounted to 38. Annually, about 600,000800,000 people are trafficked across international borders, mostly consisting of women and children. The root cause of trafficking is traffickers human. Forced migration is one root cause of human trafficking. Human trafficking po licy should have stro ng links to migration and trafficking issues in africa b ecause, popular destinations of tra fficked persons from af rica are destined to quite a number. Over a period of nine months, we had 18 rescues and of those 18, 11 were in the western cape. Trafficking of children the case of south africa core. In some cases, traffickers trick, defraud or physically force victims into selling sex. University school of law and the university of mary washington. It has been observed that as economies continue to grow, the demand for labor is at an alltime high in the industrial sector and the sex tourism sector. Population according to undp data, south africa s population amounted to 38. Human trafficking has been on the rise globally, and africa has been an integral part of the worldwide market in human beings. There are numerous causes of human trafficking, but the root of most causes is money.
Review of research and data on human trafficking in subsaharan africa pdf. Trafficking is treated as both cause and result of child abuse. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery whereby humans are traded for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labour or commercial sexual. Pdf the nature and future of human trafficking in south africa. The perplexities of human trafficking in south africa. Human trafficking, the third largest international crime, following illegal drugs and arms trafficking, is believed to be worth billions of dollars each year. The root causes of trafficking are various and often differ from one country to another.
The extent of south africas human trafficking problem also known as trafficking in persons remains an elusive statistical nightmare. Three pieces of pending south african legislation dealing with trafficking in persons are analyzed and proposals designed to improve. Pdf the modern trend of human trafficking in africa and. Human trafficking in southeast asia have long been a problem for the area and still is prevalent today. Historic slave trade and present day human trafficking in.
Human trafficking in south africa occurs as a practice of forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation among imported and exported trafficked men, women, and children. Human trafficking varies from country to country, but it usually preys on vulnerable situations. Human trafficking is a question of injustice, said aloysius john. Fear mounts as slavery, human trafficking on rise in sa. The worldwide epidemic of trafficking in persons continues to be a global problem each year, 1. Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit. Human trafficking is the trade of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving a person through the use of force, coercion or other means for the purpose of exploiting them. More than two hundred years since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade on march 25, 1807, a trade that saw millions of african people taken away from their homes and families to work under. Human trafficking is real hidden in plain sight and tearing at the social fabric of the nation as the demand for cheap labour and sexual services keeps growing experts say. John lives in vienna, virginia, with his wife and three children. University will not infringe any third party rights and that i have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it.
A mix of impoverished individuals and the desire for more wealth creates an environment for human traffickers to benefit in the southeast. Human trafficking is the sale or trade of human beings, and it is considered to be a modern form of slavery. Childrens act 38 of 2005 chapter 18 of the childrens act is dedicated to trafficking of children. Human trafficking for sexual exploitation, as the most documented type of trafficking both internationally and in south africa, was the focus of this study as it poses significant challenges to. Apr 17, 2020 human trafficking is the sale or trade of human beings, and it is considered to be a modern form of slavery. The reality of human trafficking in south africa the.
The root cause of trafficking is traffickers posted on january 31. Generally, south african girls are trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, while boys are used for street vending, food service, and agriculture. Executive summary south africa is a multiparty parliamentary democracy in which constitutional power is shared among the executive, judiciary, and parliament branches. The overview encompasses trafficking in africa, southern africa, and south africa. Human trafficking is a global problem affecting people of all ages. The protocol is a binding international agreement, but lacks the requisite enforcement mechanisms to force states to comply. It is intended to ser ve as a tool for advocacy and awar enessraising to. In south africa, women and children make up the vast majority of the human trafficking chain whether for sexual exploitation or other forms of forced labour.
This is a result of push factors that are rooted in poverty, inequality, dis. Essay on the devastating effects of human trafficking in. The main causes of human trafficking include south africas sociopolitical and economic context with its high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, as well as the low levels or lack of education. Trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, in africa v contents foreword vii 1 introduction 1 1. However, human organ trafficking has also been identified as a growing form of the phenomenon fellows, 2008. Root causes and recommendations in south africa, women and children make up the vast majority of the human trafficking chain whether for sexual exploitation or other forms of forced labour. It is estimated that approximately 1,000,000 people are trafficked each year. South africa has in place institutions and programs whose functions include providing training to government officials that deal with human trafficking issues. To fill this demand, people are sold or traded among human traffickers. It is estimated that more than threequarters of all victims are between the ages of 1225.
Corruption in government departments, within law enforcement units and bordercrossing patrols also plays a role in hindering initiatives. Nov 30, 2018 the extent of south africas human trafficking problem also known as trafficking in persons remains an elusive statistical nightmare. A south african legislative perspective 6 2 section 281 of the childrens act. Human trafficking is commonly referred to as modernday slavery but the legal definition is a person who has been delivered, recruited, transported, transferred. Trafficking is a complex phenomenon that is often driven or influenced by social, economic, cultural and other factors. What is most certain and uncertain about the future of human trafficking in south. It identifies those human rights that are commonly affected by trafficking and considers the situation of special groups with reference to additional or different rights to which they may be entitled. Seventynine percent of all global trafficking is for sexual exploitation.
People in vulnerable and precarious situations are looking for a way out and in their desperation can fall prey to human traffickers. In december 2017 the ruling african national congress anc elected then d eputy president cyril ramaphosa as party president. Aug 22, 2017 the main causes of human trafficking include south africas sociopolitical and economic context with its high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, as well as the low levels or lack of education. Corruption in government departments, within law enforcement units and bordercrossing patrols also plays a. Thereby south africa was legally bound to the protocol, which compels the national government to develop antitrafficking laws. In 2003, south africa established the human trafficking desk within the organized crime unit ocu of the south african police service saps. Although this is an issue worldwide, it is especially an important issue in south africa. South africa s issue with human trafficking was not widely broadcasted until about 2010, when the fears about the world cup brought national awareness. The selfperpetuating cycle of widespread human rights violations.
This is a result of push factors that are rooted in poverty, inequality, discrimination and a lack of economic opportunity that provoke survival strategies exposing the most vulnerable to. Especially over the past three decades, trafficking in persons has emerged as an. High demand for humans who can be used for cheap labor or sexual exploitation is one of the biggest causes of human trafficking. This article provides an overview of contemporary trafficking in human beings, specifically children.
This chapter also summarizes what is involved in taking a human rightsbased approach to. Factors contributing to human trafficking, contexts of. Three pieces of pending south african legislation dealing with trafficking in persons are. Against their will, millions of people around the world are forced to work for the profit of others, for example by begging, prostitution, involuntary servitude, working in sweatshops even becoming child soldiers. Based on annual reports on human trafficking by the united states us state department, regions and countries unintentionally play different roles in the human trafficking flow. Human trafficking, also called trafficking in persons, form of modernday slavery involving the illegal transport of individuals by force or deception for the purpose of labour, sexual exploitation, or activities in which others benefit financially. Human trafficking the sale, transport and profit from human beings who are forced to work for others is the modern equivalent of slavery.
Human trafficking has recently emerged as an exceedingly intricate international crime. South africas approach to the global human trafficking. A critical analysis of human trafficking in south africa. Traffickers look for people who are susceptible to coercion into the human trafficking industry.
If almost all countries participate in trafficking including middle economy countries like south africa, then the question is who will stop it. May 30, 2018 human trafficking is real hidden in plain sight and tearing at the social fabric of the nation as the demand for cheap labour and sexual services keeps growing experts say. Thereby south africa was legally bound to the protocol, which compels the national government to develop anti trafficking laws. Human trafficking meaning, causes and effects of human. The country was in the process of doing this, she said. Human trafficking in south africa root causes and recommendations unesco policy paper 2007. One of the leading problems in the world today is human trafficking. South africa at the crossroads of human trafficking.
More than two hundred years since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade on march 25, 1807, a trade that saw millions of african people taken away from their homes and families to work. South africa is a destination country for longdistance flows for. Recommenda tions policy p a per pover ty serie s n. Human trafficking is silently tearing south africa apart. Although the figures are subject to some dispute, the us department of state estimates that between 800 000 and 900 000 people become victims of. This also holds true for ethiopian men, women and children who have been immensely draining out via various channels within assorted. Poverty, war, natural disasters and a search for a better life. In 2015, 5,544 cases of human trafficking were reported, as stated in a study by the national human trafficking resource center. It includes sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced child labor and the unlawful recruitment of soldiers. Driving the trade is the demand for commercial sexual exploitation. An environment in which trafficking flourishes is created by conflict, forced migration due to the climate crisis and inequality, the sex trade, the demand for cheap labour and the profits that can be made by criminals. Jurist guest columnist tseliso thipanyane, of the columbia university law school and the safer south africa foundation, discusses human trafficking and slavery issues in africa and the causes. South africa is the highway to human trafficking introduction human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal industry in the world, as coming first is illegal drugtrade.
However, the question is what is human trafficking. South africas approach to the global human trafficking crisis. To date, our line has assisted 105 victims of trafficking in south africa over the past three years. In others, victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions. First it will examine the issue of consent, and its pivotal role in defining both adult and child trafficking. This article looks at critical concepts found in the new south african countertrafficking legislation. Now south africa has one of the highest amounts of human trafficking in the world.
Human trafficking in south africa occurs as a practice of forced labour and commercial sexual. In 2003, south africa established the human trafficking desk within the organized crime unit. Unemployment, poverty, increase in prostitution, socialcultural practices undermining women, gender imbalances and the demand for sex workers and for cheap labour are the main causes of trafficking in. A critical analysis of human trafficking in south africa remedies. These measures include, among other things, the formulation and implementation of both. The main causes of human trafficking include south africa s sociopolitical and economic context with its high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment, as well as the low levels or lack of education. Pdf the nature and future of human trafficking in south. They are aware that trafficking is not limited to poor people 57% 82. Human trafficking is not a problem unique to the united states, so it is necessary to examine how another country addresses trafficking from a legislative standpoint.
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