How to protect yourself and loved ones from human trafficking
Victims of trafficking are always introduced to the trafficker by someone they know.
Non-profit organisation Stop Human Trafficking Now in August named human trafficking as the second biggest profit-making crime in the world.
In Africa, over two million people are trafficked annually, and, of this number, there are approximately 30 000 children as young as four who are being prostituted in South Africa. This is according to The Salvation Army of the Southern Africa.
Also read:
Stay safe in honour of World Day against Human Trafficking in Persons
Half of these children are younger than 14 years old. There are up to 10 000 child prostitutes in Johannesburg.
Up to 1 000 girls are trafficked to South Africa from Mozambique each year.
The Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo are the mostly affected areas.
According to the site, the following tips are important to protect yourself this festive season.
• Keep important contact numbers on you and if you visiting to another country, know the number of the South African embassy in the country you visiting to.
• Arrange that if your family has not heard from you within a certain period of time, they should contact you, the embassy police or the international organisation for migration.
• Travel with a certified copy of your passport if you are in another country should an emergency emerge.
• Never give your passport to anyone.
• Always inform your relatives of your whereabouts and who you are with.
• Never accept drinks, food or money from strangers.
Also read:
BREAKING NEWS: Man arrested for human trafficking in Bakerton
Remember that no one has the right to keep you against your will or force you to do anything you do not want to do.
Emergency numbers to always remember, crime stop line 086 001 0111 or call the police on 10111.
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