Human trafficking highlighted in 700km walk
Forty brave souls will take on 695 kilometres in six days to create awareness about human trafficking and to raise funds for the Open Door Crisis Care Centre.
ACCORDING to the Open Door Crisis Care Centre in Pinetown, human trafficking is regarded as the second-highest criminal offence, second only to drugs, generating up to millions of dollars a year.
Thora Mansfield, the director of Open Door, said forty people will take on 695 kilometres of walking, from Durban to Johannesburg, to raise awareness about trafficking for sexual exploitation of women and children.
“Human trafficking can be referred to as modern-day slavery, and is unlawful in that it not only violates basic human rights, but is also a criminal offence. About 12 million people worldwide are enslaved in human trafficking and approximately 80 per cent are women and girls who are entrapped for sexual exploitation.
“Of that, 50 per cent are minors. More than 600 to 800 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year, but trafficking not only happens from one country to the other, but also from one province in South Africa to another,” she said.
According to Mansfield, victims are recruited through force, fraud or false promises of better jobs, or the opportunity for travel with a specific target.
“After recruitment, victims are transported to their destination and sold for sexual exploitation. There are several forms of trafficking, which include organ, child labour, drug, arms and illegal adoptions. Victims are forced to take drugs to enable them to submit to their traffickers, often having to perform sexual acts up to 20 or more times a day without their consent, resulting in physical and deep psychological problems.
“Their documents and passports are taken away from them; they are kept captive and are often treated brutally, keeping them in bondage to their captives. Money earned goes directly to the trafficker, with the victim having to pay them back for accommodation, airfare and other so-called expenses, which means they can never pay back their debt.
“Threats to kill them or their families, should they leave, leave them with no choice but to stay,” Mansfield added.
The long walk for victim empowerment
A TOTAL of 40 Open Door and South African Police officers will walking from Durban to Johannesburg from 2 May until 6 May to raise awareness and much-needed funds to fight human trafficking in the province.
There will be a special focus on child trafficking.
Each walker will walk 129 kilometres a day on the alternative route, where they will visit rural towns along the way to raise awareness about trafficking.
“We need vouchers or money to purchase food and cover expenses for the trip,” Mansfield said.
Contact Thelma on 031 709 2679 or e-mail admin@opendoor.org.za.
Schools challenged to support Human Rights Day
THE Open Door Crisis Care Centre challenged local schools to create awareness of trafficking and human rights for Human Rights Day, which is on Saturday, 21 March.
“To draw attention to human rights and the devastating effects of trafficking on children, The Open Door is requesting that pupils form a human chain during their break period on Friday, 20 March. Children are encouraged to donate R2 on the day towards the work of The Open Door awareness outreach programmes that support vulnerable children,” she said.
Contact The Open Door Crisis Care Centre on 031 709 2679, or e-mail thelma@opendoor.org.za.
