Page 7 - Dainfern Precinct Living 2 2021

LIFESTYLE

between the ages of 12 and 25, and issues, such a sexually-transmitted country, it may be a good idea
both genders are affected. diseases or complications from to contact the South African
childbirth. Embassy there to see if they have
The sex industry has an insatiable any local information that can
appetite for ‘fresh prostitutes’ and HOW CAN YOU TELL IF verify the employer’s legitimacy.
this is where a large percentage SOMEONE YOU MEET IS A • You can also call the South African
of young women and a smaller VICTIM? Chamber of Commerce and check
percentage of boys are traded. If you see someone working that the recruiting company is a
Other victims are put to work in somewhere and happen to interact properly registered company.
sweat shops, as forced labour in with them, you should be able to pick • If you do travel overseas in
the services sector and agriculture, up tell-tale signs such as: response to a job offer, remember,
and others are used as domestic • They tend to work extremely long no employer is entitled to keep or
servants. Babies, young children and hours. withhold your passport and visa. In
disabled people are frequently used • They have no/limited social life. any event, you should keep copies
by beggars to tug at people’s heart • They have no access to their of these in a few separate places
strings as a way to extort money wages. in your luggage.
from them. • They don’t know their home • Before you arrive in a foreign
address. country for work purposes,
Students are vulnerable as they can • They don’t have any form of memorise the number of the South
be lured by clandestine ‘employment identification, or their identification African Embassy in that country.
agencies’ advertising lucrative and documents may be fake. Make contact with the embassy
exciting jobs overseas. When the • They may have bruises or injuries. when you arrive. You should also
students arrive at their destination, • Their movement is controlled at all ensure you have a list of phone
their visas and passports are times. numbers of local contacts in the
confiscated, their movements are • They are often unable to speak/ host country who you can trust,
restricted and they are told they understand any of our local and call them to let them know you
have to ‘work off their debt’ (if their languages. have arrived.
travel costs were covered) and work • Make sure your family and friends
to cover the cost of food and their WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO back home have a list of people
accommodation. KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR who they can contact if they are
CHILDREN SAFE? unable to get hold of you, including
Children left without parents due Child abduction if rife throughout the the local South African Embassy
to the HIV/AIDS pandemic are world. But it’s not only children who and the local police station.
particularly vulnerable, and in SA, are victims of human trafficking. • If you are moved to a new
there’s also the tradition called Here’s some advice offered by location, try to obtain the phone
ukuthwala (child marriage) that is security experts: numbers and contact details of the
still followed in some rural areas. • Don’t jog or walk alone in secluded authorities there and send your
Young girls might be given up by areas and do not allow your children family an update.
their families, sometimes they are to walk alone in the streets.
simply abducted, and then they • Keep a close eye on who your Human trafficking is a highly
are married off to men who are children are interacting with in lucrative industry, second only to
often old enough to be their fathers chat rooms or games online. They the drug trade. It’s an indisputable
or even their grandfathers. This could become victims of social fact that it’s a violation of one’s
robs them of the opportunity to media ‘grooming’ that lures them basic Human Rights. If you suspect
have a normal childhood and they to meet strangers, making them someone you meet is a victim of
lose their right to freedom and an vulnerable to abduction. human trafficking, don’t look the
education. Suddenly, these girls • Verify all online job offers and other way – take action! You would
become wives with babies and contact references to make sure want them to do the
family responsibilities, and they these organisations are legal. same for you,
may land up suffering from health If the job offered is in a foreign wouldn’t you?

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

There are a number of organisations committed to stamping out Human
Trafficking in this country. You can call the Department of Social Development
(DSD) Hotline on 0800 220 250 or the National Human Trafficking Resource
Line on 0800 222 777.
The Salvation Army is actively working on combatting Human Trafficking. You can contact Salvation Army Anti-
Human Trafficking SA by calling their Toll free line: 08000 RESCU(73728) or by visiting their Facebook page.

A21 is one of the largest non-profit organisations in the world that is solely fighting human trafficking. They
can be contacted by calling their Cape Town office on 021 551 0971, emailing them at: info.sa@a21.org, or
visiting their website: A21.org/southafrica.

Embrace Dignity is a Cape Town-based NGO that is focused on helping women and girls escape the
endless cycle of prostitution, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. They can be contacted by calling
087 095 3086, emailing: info@embracedignity.org.za or visiting their website: http://embracedignity.org.za/.

4 5
DPL