Keeping your children safe

According to LifeLine Ekurhuleni director Megan Briedé, trafficking occurs when someone is taken from the place where they live to another place, to be exploited or taken advantage of.

“People who are trafficked have often been misinformed or tricked into leaving and, in most cases, trafficked children and young people are either moved within the country (from a rural area to a large city or a tourist destination), or taken to a foreign country,” said Briedé.

“Children who have been trafficked are usually forced into prostitution, to perform illegal or dangerous work, to beg, or to become involved in drug-smuggling.

“Younger children and babies may be trafficked so that they can be illegally adopted.”

She added that human trafficking is the third largest industry on a global scale, after illegal arms and drugs.

There are several things that you can do to combat trafficking.

These include:

· Spreading the word about trafficking, and raising awareness.

· Join in – join an organisation that is fighting trafficking and participate in awareness raising campaigns and activities to raise much needed funds.

· Speak out – if you believe that someone is a victim of trafficking, speak out.

Safety measures to ensure the safety of your children:

· Remember the rule of safety in numbers.

· Children shouldn’t go alone to the shops or on other errands.

· Children should walk to school in a group rather than alone, particularly when walking long distances.

· If you are collecting a child from school make sure you are on time.

· When a child wants to go out with friends or stay over at their homes, first give your approval to the family.

· Make time to discuss the outing or visit afterwards with the child.

· Make sure that places of entertainment are child-friendly before allowing your child to go there unaccompanied by you or an adult well known to you.

· Be aware if a child comes home with gifts or money that cannot be accounted for. If the child says it is a gift from a friend, ask for their name to thank them.

· If a child tries to explain the strange activities or behaviour of others, which he or she can’t fully understand, take them seriously and get professional help from your local Child Welfare Society or the local police.

· Child abuse has no boundaries and perpetrators do not discriminate in terms of age, gender, social backgrounds or the family circumstances of their victims. Child abusers are everywhere.

Briedé added that victims of trafficking should seek help.

For more information contact LifeLine Ekurhuleni on 011 422 4242 or 0861 322 322, to speak to one of the counsellors.