Anti-human trafficking walk set to take place

As the Human Trafficking Awareness Week comes to an end, the A21 Campaign announced its plans to host its annual walk at Rhema Bible Church, Randpark Ridge, on 17 October. The walk is aimed at raising awareness about modern day slavery otherwise known as human trafficking. Johannesburg is one of nine cities around the world to host a mass walk in a global attempt to raise awareness of modern day slavery.

Mandy Murugan from A21 Campaign said the day’s activities were to put the spotlight on trafficking which she said affected girls as young as 12 years old. “We are pledging our support for the determined efforts of the global counter-trafficking lobby movement. The walk will take place in and around the perimeter of Rhema Bible Church in Randburg,” she said. Murugan said that the campaign was supported by Rhema Bible Church, and the purpose of the walk was to put the spotlight on the R426-billion criminal industry that currently sees 27 million men, women and children trapped in modern day slavery (human trafficking) around the world.

“Human trafficking is a global reality that affects every continent and economic structure and South Africa is no exception. South Africa is a prime destination for international crime syndicates from Africa, South East Asia and Eastern Europe, [who smuggle] children and adults alike into South Africa, for sex purposes, among other forms of exploitation,” she added. Murugan pointed out that children were normally recruited from poor rural areas and brought to and moved between urban centres such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Bloemfontein. Sadly she said, no community is immune to this atrocity.

Murugan said that according to the 2014 Traffic In Persons (TIP) report, girls were subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude while boys were forced to work in street vending, food service, begging, criminal activities, and agriculture. “The more people are aware of how these crime syndicates operate, the less they’ll fall for the deceiving traps set by these criminals and the more people will be empowered to protect themselves and their children,” Murugan concluded.

Contact details: info.sa@thea21campaign.org or 080 055 5999.