Human trafficking is real

GEORGE NEWS - Human trafficking is serious and it is real - even in our local communities.

This is the important message that the local anti-human trafficking group, Stop Trafficking of People (Stop), wants to bring across to the citizens of George.

With the aim of creating more much-needed awareness about this topic, Stop hosted a special screening of the movie Sound of Freedom at Ster-Kinekor at the Garden Route Mall on Thursday 28 September.

To create awareness among the first line of defence, it was aimed at various law enforcement departments.

Sound of Freedom, a movie distributed by Gravel Road, is based on the true life event of a federal agent, Tim Ballard (US Department for Homeland Security) who conducts sting operations to rescue a young brother and sister from human trafficking in Colombia.

After rescuing the boy from ruthless child traffickers, Ballard learns the boy's sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her.

Gravel Road Distribution Group, who distributed the tickets for the movie, is a Cape Town-based entertainment company that focuses on sales and distribution of quality filmed content across all market channels, in all territories.

According to Stop's Zelda Barnard, many people are blind to the widespread occurrence of human trafficking.

"Human trafficking isn't an outlandish concept and it doesn't only happen in other parts of the world. It is a very real and very serious crime taking place daily in our own communities. As a community it is our responsibility to report any suspicious activity," Barnard said.

"It's surprising how very few people are aware of this and the consequences thereof. We at Stop Trafficking of People strongly believe that this is an issue that deserves all the awareness we can create around it. The more people that know about it, the more people can make enlightened decisions. Human trafficking is not a crime that is easy to prove, but if we all stand together, educate people on what to be aware of and spread the word, it can be contained," she said.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is the modern-day slavery. It is the trade of humans, most commonly for the exploitation of their bodies and their labour through sexual slavery, forced labour, commercial sexual exploitation, forced marriage, organ harvesting and more.

The purpose is always to use the person to benefit the trafficker and other culprits.

How it happens

Human trafficking can be achieved by using force, lies, threats, abduction or fraud. Often, those trapped have believed a story that is too good to be true. Many times it is through someone they know.

Traffickers will do anything they can to get what they want, because they see human beings as objects or products.

Keeping safe

According to Stop's website, www.stoptrafficking.org.za, it is important to always think carefully before you act so as not to get yourself trapped or used. Not everything you read on the internet is true - know your facts.

Use the resources and safety tools at your disposal and always remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it normally is.

Make sure you know what your children's online activities involve. Social media has been used by traffickers to recruit victims, to proliferate their trafficking operations, and to control victims through restricting their social media access, impersonating the victim, or spreading lies and rumours online.

Emergency numbers

National human trafficking hotline: 0800 222 777
Salvation Army: 0800 073 728
Missing Children SA: 072 647 7464
Childline: 0800 055 555
Gender-based violence: 0800 428 428
Crime Stop: 08600 10111

For more information, please visit www.stoptrafficking.org.za

Natius, Odette and Nadette Anker enjoyed a family outing to watch the movie.

Marguerite van Ginkel and Kobus van Zyl.

Herman and Bernadine Janse van Rensburg, Chrisdelle Appels, Leatitia du Plessis, Benzil Ramati and Algernon Matabata of the George Traffic Department also attended the screening.