GEORGE NEWS - Human trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world and a $150-billion industry of which only 1% of victims are rescued. This is according to Ancel Marais, a member of the A21 team in George.

A21 is a global non-profit organisation determined to eradicate human trafficking through awareness, intervention and aftercare. Currently operating in 13 countries, A21 aims to combat human trafficking through a multi-dimensional operational strategy: Reach, Rescue, and Restore. They believe that through partnerships and the efforts of their supporters all over the world, victims can be identified and assisted, and perpetrators can be brought to justice. 

On 20 October millions of people will gather all over the world for an awareness event called the A21 Walk For Freedom (#WalkForFreedom). Walks will take place in hundreds of cities across the world, including George.

"The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness about the millions of men, women, and children who are still trapped in slavery today. The belief is that this international event will be the catalyst for the rescue of people who are being exploited," said Marais. Participants will be wearing black shirts and walking in single file through various cities across the world.

Human trafficking in SA
South Africa is known as a source, transit and destination country with an estimated 248 700 people being trafficked yearly. The beauty and perception of economic prosperity lures people from all over Africa and Asia with the promise of a "better life". 

Among other things, these victims are then forced to work on farms, fishing trawlers and in domestic servitude. Some are sexually exploited.

The George Walk For Freedom will start at 08:00 at Hope Church in Knysna Road. Event T-shirts will be available at R80 each.

To take part in the A21 walk, participants have to register on www.A21.org or e-mail georgeateam@gmail.com or register on Hope Church's website under the events tab. Parking and child care will be available during the event. Children under the age of 13 do not have to register.

School visits
The local A21 team will also be visiting various schools to create awareness of the reality of human trafficking, how to recognise it and what to do if you suspect that a person or a company might be involved in human trafficking.

Any schools that would like the A21 team to visit them can e-mail Leanne van Niekerk at the above e-mail address.

An infographic depicting known ways of trafficking.

Types of trafficking

• Sex trafficking - Forcing, deceiving, or coercing a person to perform a commercial sex act.
• Forced labour - Forcing a person to work in captivity for little or no pay.
• Bonded labour - Forcing a person to work for low wages to pay back an impossible debt.
• Involuntary domestic servitude - Forcing a person to work and live in the same place for little or no pay.
• Child soldiers - Forcing a child to participate in an armed force.

Signs that someone might be a victim of human trafficking

• Being controlled by another person - They are accompanied by a controlling person, and do not speak on their own behalf, but instead defer to another person.
• Controlled movement - They are transported to or from work, or live and work at the same place. They show signs that their movements are being controlled.
• Lack of earnings - They are unable to keep their earnings: it is "withheld for safekeeping". In many cases, the person owes a debt they are working to pay off.
• Foreign or unfamiliar with a local language - They have recently arrived in the country and do not speak the language of the country - or they only know sex-related or labour-related words.
• Overly fearful, depressed and submissive behaviour - They are frightened to talk to outsiders and authorities since they are closely monitored and controlled by their trafficker(s). They may be fearful, anxious, depressed, overly submissive, and may avoid eye contact.
• Bad health and malnutrition - They may have signs of abuse or signs of being denied food, water, sleep, and/or medical care.
• Lack of official identification - They are not in possession of their passports, identification, or legal documents.

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