World Day against Trafficking in Persons

World Day against Trafficking in Persons

World Day against Trafficking in Persons is an observance aimed at raising awareness about the global problem of human trafficking. This heinous crime affects an estimated 40 million-plus victims worldwide, who are trafficked for various purposes such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage. This day highlights the need for governments, civil society, the private sector, and individuals to come together to combat this serious violation of human rights.

The United Nations General Assembly first established the World Day against Trafficking in Persons on December 3, 2013, to serve as a beacon for collective action against this growing problem. In the South African context, human trafficking is a pervasive issue, with victims being predominantly women and children. The country is deemed a source, transit, and destination point for traffickers, with organized criminal networks exploiting the vulnerabilities of marginalized populations. In response, the South African government has enacted the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (2013) to strengthen the legal framework against human trafficking and intensify national efforts to address this grave injustice.

To observe World Day against Trafficking in Persons in South Africa, various stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and civil society organizations, organize events and campaigns to raise public awareness of the issue. Activities can include workshops, film screenings, panel discussions, and social media campaigns under the banner of #EndHumanTrafficking. World Day against Trafficking in Persons is observed annually on July 30th, a time for South Africans to join forces to protect and restore the dignity of those affected by this crime.

Facts about Human Trafficking

• The theme for World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2023 was Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind.
• The average cost of a slave globally is $90.
• According to the latest report, the number of people trapped in human trafficking more than doubled in the 2021-22 financial year in South Africa. From April 2021 to March 2022, 83 people were trafficked, compared with 16 people the year before.
• Trafficking in South Africa involves forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. Women and children are most vulnerable to sex trafficking, while men are often forced into labor exploitation in industries like agriculture, construction, and fishing.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for World Day against Trafficking in Persons

Top things to do in South Africa for this observance

• Spread awareness about the day by using the hashtags #WorldDayAgainstTraffickinginPersons and #IGiveHope.
• Donate to charities: Not For Sale, Unisex or Polaris Project. All donations go toward protecting people and communities around the world from modern-day slavery and human trafficking. They have directly supported thousands of people around the world back to lives of freedom and meaning.
• Watch Mule: Living on the Outside (2018). The documentary focuses on human trafficking in South Africa, with a particular emphasis on the vulnerability of migrants and refugees.
• Read a book to learn more about Human Trafficking in South Africa. Here are our recommendations:
  1. Slavery in Human Trafficking: Analyzing the Dark Side of Migration in South Africa by Wade Horn
  2. The Social Life of Human Trafficking: Strategies and Responses in South Africa by Ineke Van Kessel
  3. Ending the Traffic: Analyzing Domestic and International Responses to Human Trafficking in South Africa by Catrina Doyle