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South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country for victims of trafficking. Our country has become a prime destination for international trafficking syndicates to operate.
There are a few main approaches traffickers use to lure victims:
False job offers, for jobs both in and outside of South Africa. When the person arrives, they find that the conditions are different from the ones advertised in the job offer – Often the victim’s ID is taken away, and they are forced into labour or sexual exploitation.
Loverboy – the trafficker courts the victim and pretends to be falling in love with them. Once he earns the victim’s trust, he sells them to be sexually exploited.
The Internet, mainly social networking sites, is a commonly used tool by traffickers for research and selection of potential victims.
Can You See Me? exists to bring awareness to the millions of men, women, and children who are currently trapped in slavery across the world.
Slavery is a hidden crime yet it is happening in plain sight. Victims of this atrocity are all around us, in our neighbourhoods, local spaza shops, in the same aisle of the grocery story, making our clothes in the factory down the road. We just don’t know how to recognise them.
In response to cases and statistics identifed through the National Human Trafficking Hotline (operated by A21 South Africa) since its inception in 2016, Can You See Me? highlights three particular types of slavery: Domestic Servitude, Sexual Exploitation and Forced Labour. These can be used to educate members of the public on common scenarios where victims may be found as well as exposing methods by which they themselves may be lured. We aim to not only help people understand the issue but also equip them to do something about it.
By partnering with law enforcement, governments, businesses, and NGOs our goal is to turn awareness into action. We hope that through collective action, human trafficking identification and rescue will increase, thereby making it more difficult for traffickers to operate.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE FASTEST-GROWING GLOBAL CRIME AFFECTING EVERY CONTINENT AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD. IT IS HAPPENING IN INDUSTRIES THAT WE INTERACT WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
0800222777 is the South African National Human Trafficking Hotline, working in partnership with service providers nationally.
The National Hotline takes calls 24/7. Call Specialists are specially trained professionals, who follow international procedures ensuring the fastest response to each case. The Hotline works in close partnership with many stakeholders to ensure rapid response and effectiveness. The Hotline can connect you with training service providers for government institutions, hospitals, schools and universities, non-profits, etc.
For more information on A21 or human trafficking in South Africa,
visit A21.org/SouthAfrica or email info.SA@a21.org.
