With the first week of October being Human Trafficking Awareness Week, a non-government organisation, Stop Trafficking of People (Stop) Limpopo held a training session for social workers in the province at the Polokwane Child and Family Care Society on Tuesday.
Stop National Director, Corinne Sandenbergh who conducted the training said the purpose thereof was to educate and train social workers to successfully handle human trafficking matters. She further said social workers play an important role when it comes to aiding human trafficking victims.
She added that many have been made vulnerable by poverty and conflict, but no matter the reasons, when victims are trafficked, social workers and other social service providers play a critical role in raising awareness of trafficking and aiding survivors.
Sandenbergh described Limpopo as one of the most vulnerable provinces in the country when it comes to human trafficking as the province shares borders with three neighbouring countries, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.
Children are reportedly the most defenceless and a lot needs to be done to stop them from falling prey to human trafficking. Global slavery statistics released last month and quoted by Sandenbergh reveal that more than 40 million people are living in slavery worldwide. An estimated 40 million people were victims of modern slavery last year, a quarter of them being children. Sandenbergh emphasised that human trafficking was a serious crime and traffickers could be fined up to R100 million or handed life sentences.
The organisation assists victims from the moment of their rescue by providing comprehensive psychological and social support services, and by helping them to reintegrate into society in their native countries. The rescue of victims is the first step of a long and difficult process of rehabilitation and reintegration into society, after the cycle of violence and terror that has been their daily life, Sandenbergh explained.
Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
