Education key to fight GBV and human trafficking

As human trafficking and gender-based violence rates continue to rise, a major player in the private sector has called on communities to join the fight.

Global law firm Dentons hosted an interactive discussion on gender-based violence and human trafficking at its offices in Sandton on November 19.

The discussion was aimed at establishing how the private sector, the community and society as a whole can make a positive impact in eradicating the pandemic of gender-based violence and human trafficking.

According to panellist and managing director of Media Monitoring Agency William Bird, people need to realise that this pandemic that we are facing is not a gender issue, it is everyone’s issue and we should all be concerned. “Statistics, which were already worryingly high before, only skyrocketed with the Covid-19 lockdown – which is why conservations that include both men and women are important.

“This is not a problem meant to be solved by only women. Men need to start accepting it, accept the reality that this [gender-based violence and human trafficking] does not only happen to women.”

Also on the panel Diana Schwarz, social media law partner and children’s rights activist, added that a major element in the eradication of this pandemic is education. “We have to start with the education of our children at home, whether it is boys or girls. How do you treat individuals – we have to start with the basics.”

Society must also acknowledge that abuse stretches far beyond physical and sexual violence; it can also be presented mentally, financially and technologically. “Imagine what we can do if we put the same amount of energy into eradicating GBV and human trafficking as we have in eradicating the pandemic,” said Bird.

ALSO READ:

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/296708/collaboration-needed-to-fight-gbv-tears/

https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/282826/fight-human-trafficking-through-collaboration/