GEORGE NEWS - trafficking is a reality we need to face. The brutality of human trafficking is real, frightening, lucrative.
Katie Mondrau (KM), manager of the A21 campaign, visited the George Airport to give training on both the reality of human trafficking as well as how to identify potential victims.
It forms part of a national campaign to train all the Comair staff at the different airports around South Africa.
The staff of Acsa, Airlink and Safair attended. Thomas Duane Hodgson (TDH), a freelance writer from George, interviewed Modrau.
Read full interview below:
TDH: How long has your organisation been around?
KM: A21 is nine years old and our office has been in South Africa for five years.
TDH: What motivated the beginnings of A21?
KM: Our founder is Christine Caine and A21 really started as an idea she got one day at her kitchen counter. Christine had been on a trip to Greece and when she arrived at the airport, there were posters of young children and women. Since the posters where in Greek she asked her host what they were all about. Her host then told her that these posters were of missing people, and they were most likely trafficked.
TDH: Was Christine familiar with the word "trafficked" at that stage?
KM: No, Christine had no idea what trafficking was or how much of a problem it happened to be. But this still sparked something in her to research and ask questions. When Christine realised that it is actually too big not to do something about, A21 was born.
TDH: What exactly is the mission of the organisation A21?
KM: In short, we are the new abolitionists and our mission is to end slavery.
TDH: Where is A21 based and what exactly is its purpose?
KM: A21 is a global nonprofit organisation, based in 11 countries around the world, fuelled by radical hope that human beings worldwide would be rescued from bondage and completely restored. The organisation works with you, the public, to free slaves all over South Africa (and globally) and to disrupt the demand for slavery.
TDH: How would you define human trafficking?
KM: Human trafficking is an organised crime, ultimately the business of selling people.
TDH: What is human trafficking doing right now?
KM: Human trafficking is destroying lives, but we believe that freedom will have the final word.
TDH: Why does human trafficking happen?
KM: The bottom line is because of the huge demand. Human trafficking is the crime of exploiting people for profit by recruiting them through fraud, force or coercion. In essence it is selling people like a commodity. If there was no demand for cheap labour and sex, people would not become victims of trafficking.
TDH: Where does human trafficking happen?
KM: Everywhere. There is no continent in the world where this doesn't happen. But you will find it is far more prominent in countries where there is (what we call) "high vulnerability".
TDH: Do you have some statistics to put the seriousness of human trafficking in context?
KM: According to the Global Slavery Index (2016), 46% of South Africans are vulnerable to falling prey to trafficking.
TDH: How does vulnerability play a role in human trafficking?
KM: Traffickers prey on vulnerability with the intention to exploit it, in order to recruit and control people.
TDH: What would make a person vulnerable to human trafficking?
KM: Anybody can become a victim of trafficking, but there are certain things that can make a person more vulnerable, for example poverty. When struggling financially, the promise of a better life or a great job can easily entice the person.
TDH: What is the average age of human trafficking victims?
KM: The average age of a victim of trafficking in North America is estimated at 12 years old. Such statistics for Africa are not available yet as there has been very little research to date.
TDH: Are there different types or various motivations for human trafficking?
KM: There are five general types of exploitation.
1. Sexual exploitation: This can be in the form of brothels, escorts, street prostitution and massage parlours.
2. Forced labour: Where your manual labour is forced, with no pay and benefits. There is no choice in the work and victims are not free to leave.
3. Bonded labour: This can take many forms, but it boils down to a person working to pay back a debt. This is a form of control and usually the sum of the work the person does is far more than the original debt bonding them.
4. Child soldiers: This is seen more in the north of our continent. It is the use of children in a political war.
5. Domestic servitude: It is slavery that takes place in a private residence. On the surface, the victim usually looks like someone's domestic worker or nanny. However, when you dig deeper, you realise this person is not paid a wage and works seven days a week. Their only remuneration is the roof over their head and meals.
TDH: What ties all five general types of exploitation together?
KM: It is when a person is forced or bound to do something against their will. They are exploited and are trapped in that situation.
TDH: How do human trafficking offenders lure their victims?
KM: It always comes down to deception and an opportunity that sounds too good to be true, an opportunity that will help this person out of a desperate situation.
TDH: How long does a human trafficking victim last?
KM: It differs from case to case but we have had one victim who was being exploited on the streets for eight months before being rescued. Her body was so broken and abused that she passed away shortly after receiving help. This really indicates how brutal and intense human trafficking is.
TDH: Why is human trafficking lucrative?
KM: Well, for example, in our shelter operated in Greece, we have had survivors reporting having serviced up to 110 men a day. In South Africa we have a slightly different set-up to the brothels in Greece. It is still frightening how many clients sex trafficking victims have to see both day and night. Actually they are usually given drugs to keep their bodies awake all day and night. This makes it highly lucrative because victims can be used over and over again.
TDH: What percentage of human trafficking victims are saved?
KM: The reality is that less than 1% of victims will ever be rescued. This is why it is so important that we teach our friends, our children and our communities what to look out for. That is to make sure they don't become one of the 99% that are never rescued.
TDH: Is there a South African law that prohibits human trafficking?
KM: Up until 2015 there was no enacted law criminalising human trafficking in South Africa. This made it very difficult for law enforcement to put traffickers in jail. But the prevention and combating of trafficking in the Person's Act is now signed. We have the law on our side to make sure victims are supported and traffickers are prosecuted.
TDH: What is the percentage of traffickers that get caught?
KM: Currently the global statistic is that only 1 to 2% of traffickers are ever convicted of their crimes.
TDH: Who can be guilty of human trafficking?
KM: There is a clause in the law that states that if you see trafficking happening and turn a blind eye, then you can be held responsible to some degree. That is of course if it can be proven that you allowed the crime to happen but did nothing to stop it. In brief, anyone who through their action or inaction allows the crime to take place is responsible.
TDH: Do you have examples to illustrate this?
KM: An example could be a taxi driver who drives girls from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town, to a recruitment agency, knowing that they find themselves in domestic servitude. It could also be the security guard at a block of flats, who knows there is a brothel using human trafficking, but does not report it. If you recruit, transport, harbour, transfer, or receive a person for human trafficking you can be found guilty of trafficking.
TDH: Are victims used to recruit others?
KM: After a period of time, victims of trafficking can be forced to recruit others into exploitation too. This does two things - it turns the victim into a criminal and it also makes them afraid to go to the police because they are afraid that they will be arrested as well. Anyone is welcome to visit our website (www.a21.org) and watch Nicole's story. She explains how she was used to recruit.
TDH: Does human trafficking happen in George?
KM: Definitely! We have had a few cases of victims coming from George or being exploited here. One case in particular will always stay with me, case of domestic servitude that happened in George. A young girl from a neighbouring African country came to South Africa to have a better life. She was promised a job but was used as a house slave in the informal settlement were she was beaten and abused terribly. Her rescue came when a concerned community member became aware of her plight and took her in. A recent case of trafficking involved a girl in Springs. More information about this can be found on: http://www.humantrafficking.co.za/index.php/news/1574-south-africa-teenage-girl-linked-to-springs-human-trafficking-syndicate-21-may-2017
TDH: What are the usual signs of human trafficking?
KM: I always say that trafficking is a crime in plain sight. We can see it every day but it looks like something else. For example, it may look like a drug addict, a prostitute or even an illegal immigrant.
TDH: How would you identify if it is indeed human trafficking?
KM: The best way to identify trafficking is to be aware and when you can, ask questions. Identifying trafficking can be through the establishment of:
1. Control: is this person in control of their ID or passport? Are they always accompanied by someone who speaks on their behalf?
2. Freedom: Do they have freedom of movement? Can they leave their 'employment' if they wanted to?
3. Remuneration: Are they paid a fair salary each month? Or are they paid in tips or not at all?
If any of the answers to these questions don't sound normal, I would report a tip-off.
TDH: How can victims and the public get hold of you with regards to human trafficking?
KM: The best way is to call the National Human Trafficking Resource Line. We have trained call specialists who answer the phone 24/7 and are able to help any victim who calls in. The specialists are also there to help establish if it is trafficking taking place. No tip-off is too small or too big. We can also be e-mailed at info.sa@a21.org.
TDH: Could you please share details on the Walk of Freedom?
KM: We will be hosting our annual Walk for Freedom globally on 14 October. Last year we had over 300 walks all over the world! All the details of the Walk for Freedom will be up on our website and on our social media closer to the time. Right now all the final meeting points and routes are being confirmed but there will be a walk in George this year.
TDH: In what ways can the public support your organisation?
KM: They can find us on social media and follow us on our various platforms. The best way to get involved is to spread the word. Financial support is also possible by becoming a monthly partner or hosting a fundraiser.
Naomi Senekal of Comair (Cape Town) is working with Modrau to raise awareness of the challenge of human trafficking that we are all faced with.
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