Revealed: Qatar's World Cup 'slaves' | Global development | The Guardian

Source:  The Guardian

Dozens of Nepalese migrant labourers have died in Qatar in recent weeks and thousands more are enduring appalling labour abuses, a Guardian investigation has found, raising serious questions about Qatar's preparations to host the 2022 World Cup.

Continue:http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves

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Human trafficking needs more inclusive definition - by Catherine Sasman

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From New Era

30 August 2010 

WINDHOEK – Well-known social researcher in the southern African region, Merab Kiremire, said human trafficking ought to be redefined for perpetrators to be more successfully prosecuted.

Currently, human trafficking is taking a person from one place to another for purposes other than stated or agreed upon through coaxing, deception, convincing, fraud, abuse of power, outright abduction, or coercion.

Human trafficking is also described as the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, forced labour (including bonded labour or debt bondage, and servitude).

Exploitation includes forcing people into prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery and servitude.

“If we continue with complex definitions, the system won’t be able to prosecute traffickers; there must be a way to simplify terms,” said Kiremire, who was part of a team that travelled throughout the country and had gone to all border posts during May to July to raise awareness about human trafficking among border-post personnel, truck drivers and church and political leaders in preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup that took place in South Africa.

The group, under the auspices of the Churches United Against HIV/AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa, in partnership with the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN), did a baseline study of what a likely scenario would be during the soccer event.

What the group found, said Karimire, and was that girls and women were streaming into South Africa, which is considered as the best sex trade market in the region.

In a 2008 study entitled Southern African Network Against Abuse and Trafficking, Kiremire found 110 girls – usually between the ages of 14 to 24, considered the ‘prime’ years for prostitutes – were found to have moved from Lusaka in Zambia to Johannesburg “to be located in the most appropriate places”.

The more recent study showed that girls and women moved to South Africa, especially from Mozambique and Zambia. Those who went from Namibia left mainly from Windhoek and Walvis Bay, often armed only with the knowledge that they have to “following B1” to South Africa.

“What we found was not so much what can be considered human trafficking, but prostitutes moving,” said Karimire.

However, she said, what became clear was that the girls were taken by older prostitutes and truck drivers.

“Often these girls would not know where they are going. The risk young people take is horrendous, and yet they say they often have no alternative but to,” said Kiremire. A shocking discovery, said Kiremire, was the symbiotic relationship between prostitutes, truck drivers and border-post personnel that become familiar with the drivers passing through regularly.

At one police checkpoint at Grünau, it was recorded that over a period of four days, as many as 50 trucks passed by with women on board.

Police in this instance are often helpless bystanders because the women have valid travel documents.

“The biggest discovery was the fact that there is a very thin line between consensual movement and trafficking. We did not find, for example, syndicates that intentionally recruit and move people without consent. Many of the girls are happy to jump onto a truck thinking they are going to Windhoek, but then they find themselves taken to Oshikango, where they are dumped,” explained Kiremire.

In other cases, young girls go onto fishing vessels at Walvis Bay “for a good time”, and without their knowledge or consent end up in places such as Argentine.

Kiremire said a new law is required that would clearly identify and prosecute the traffickers, and that gives law enforcers the power to use their discretionary powers to incarcerate suspicious elements until proven wrong.

“I think that way more people can be protected,” said Kiremire.


http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=12732

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Catholics slam human trafficking - by Irene !Hoaës

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13 July 2010

	WINDHOEK – The Namibian Catholic Women Movement is calling on governments to be responsible and not only to make laws against human trafficking, but also to implement them. The movement calls for the allocation of adequate resources to combat the crime. The issue of human trafficking, especially of women, came to the fore during the just-ended 2010 FIFA World Cup, which took place in South Africa. A number of incidents were reported, even in Namibia, where women, and even children, were trafficked to South Africa to be used as prostitutes during the event. “We are concerned that no cases of people who had disappeared at this stage had been brought to the attention of the police, while we know this is happening in our communities,” a statement issued by the Namibian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Gender Desk stated. Currently, Namibia has no law in place against human trafficking. Gender Desk Coordinator, Elma Dienda, expressed hope that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare would take up the matter seriously and come up with the necessary legal framework. “We also hope that the said ministry will conduct proper research on this issue, so that concrete evidence can be used as a tool to prevent it.” She said although Namibia might only be used as a transit route at this stage, it is a real concern to the church. The movement is further urging families to inform them or the police about any suspicious behaviour of family members. “As women of faith, in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who suffer the consequences of this evil, we will not remain silent,” the movement, promised. Human trafficking is when somebody is threatened, deceived or abducted for the purpose of exploitation and then transported within a country or to another country from their place of origin. Such recruiters could even be close relatives, a friend, a neighbour, travel agencies or a stranger. According to the movement, more women and girls than men or boys are being trafficked. It said promises include work, study, marriage or becoming tour guides. Back to Top New Era

Is Slavery on the Field at the World Cup Finals? | End Human Trafficking | Change.org

END HUMAN TRAFFICKING

In tomorrow's Spain v. Netherlands World Cup final, there is bound to be a lot of sweating, grunting, and probably some swearing on the field. But in addition to the spirit of soccer this Sunday, there might be the spirit of something else: slavery. That's because slave labor, child labor, and forced labor are used in the production of all sorts of athletic equipment, from soccer balls to uniforms to nets. How do the companies represented at the World Cup final tomorrow measure up?

The Free2Work Campaign rates companies on their labor policies, giving each one a grade from A to F, indicating how well it's preventing slavery and exploitation from tainting its product. They rate everything from consumer electronics to chocolate, including sports gear. And some of the companies who will be featured prominently in the World Cup final have been rated. Here are their roles in the World Cup and how they measure up:

Adidas: A-

The Adidas logo has been seen on all the official World Cup 2010 balls, as well as on the uniforms of the Spanish players. Adidas has enjoyed a prominent role in this World Cup, providing shoes and uniforms for a number of teams. Fortunately, they're also the highest rated soccer ball company in the Free2Work system. Adidas has policies in place to end the use of child labor forced labor and promote collective bargaining within their supply chain. They publicly post their code of conduct and list of suppliers, as well as documenting and disclosing child labor abuses in suppliers and plans on how to address those violations.

Red Card Campaign - Free Generation International

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 Read about the Red Card campaign.

Red Card Campaign - Free Generation International

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UNICEF - Press centre - UNICEF announces key actions to enhance child protection during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond

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PRETORIA, 1 June 2010 - With 10 days to go till the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, UNICEF today launched a comprehensive campaign aimed at enhancing child protection and helping to ensure children’s safety as they enjoy the global football spectacular either in their own communities or on visits to any of four free FIFA Fan Fests where the children’s organisation has established Child-friendly Spaces.

The child protection initiative was developed in cooperation with the South Africa’s Department of Social Development together with Child Welfare South Africa and other civil society partners who are experts in delivery of protection services to children.

“UNICEF is grateful to FIFA for this valuable opportunity to extend a hand through four childfriendly spaces to reduce children’s vulnerability during the global sporting event,” said UNICEF South Africa Representative Aida Girma. “The child-friendly spaces will provide safe, supervised environments where social workers, child and youth care workers and trained volunteers will be on hand to support identified children who are in need of child protection services or emergency care, while watching the matches on television screens and enjoying child-appropriate activities in the child-friendly space.”

As many as 15,000 to 45,000 fans are expected to visit the different FIFA Fan Fests each day during opening hours from 10h00 to the end of that evening’s entertainment. Anticipating that children will be among them, UNICEF will establish the child friendly spaces at Soweto, Sandton, Port Elizabeth and Nelspruit FIFA Fan Fests. In addition, UNICEF through Child Welfare South Africa and other civil society partners will be offering parents the option of voluntarily tagging their children and themselves with numbered wristbands at the FIFA Fan Fest entrance gates in case children get lost and reunification services are needed.

Social Workers Trained in all Nine Provinces

UNICEF has partnered with the Department of Social Development to support the training of social workers and child protection professionals in all nine provinces in protection and safety procedures and protocols. This will enable them to intervene in the lives of vulnerable children and take the most appropriate social service steps that would contribute to children‘s optimal well-being.

“Ultimately, this training will not only enhance the country’s ability to respond to child abuse and exploitation during the FIFA World Cup period, but also strengthen the country’s child protection system into the future as a lasting legacy of the FIFA World Cup”, Ms. Girma said, and we hope to learn much from this pilot experience so that we can share our knowledge with other countries that will host major sporting events like this in the future,” Ms. Girma said.

Red Card Campaign targets millions with child safety messages

A key component action of UNICEF’s programme will be a Red Card communication campaign, drawing on the universal football warning symbol of the red card given to players who severely violate the rules of the game, and are disqualified from further participation. By using this symbol, the campaign sends out a message that child abuse and exploitation have no place in South Africa and during the heightened sports season.

Targeted to children, communities and visitors to South Africa, the campaign comprises widespread outreach activities using digital, print and electronic communication materials, advertorials and point of purchase items and signage to advocate against child abuse and exploitation, child sex tourism and trafficking. The Red card campaign is expected to reach millions of people in South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Ms. Girma explained that some of the material is specifically aimed at children and includes tips and information on how they can protect themselves from abuse, exploitation and trafficking at any time and place. Toll free emergency telephone numbers of the South African Police Services and Childline are printed on all items, should anyone need help or wish to report an incident of child abuse.

Reaching tourists

UNICEF’s key partner in reaching tourists via the red card campaign, Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), in cooperation with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), will distribute leaflets and posters in the hospitality and through major travel industry that have agreed to participate in making visitors aware of the South Africa’s stance against child abuse, child labour, and child sex tourism.

Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa and tourism industry players has announced a call to action to adopt and sign the International Code against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism. FTTSA will launch the Code in South Africa on 8 June.

According to Jennifer Seif, FTTSA Executive Director, leading hotel groups, car hire companies and other tourism businesses in South Africa are ready to play their part to protect children at risk of exploitation.

In addition, UNICEF supports is supporting an anti human trafficking campaign organized by the National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) , which will be launched on 24 May as part of Tsiriledzani, a joint government sponsored initiative to draw attention to human trafficking.

Community Sports Festivals

UNICEF also announced a series of 21 football festivals to be held in school communities in all nine provinces from 10 June 10 to 11 July, when the country’s schools will be closed to allow children and families to join in the football celebration by participating in sport activities in their own communities.

The community sports festivals are a key component of UNICEF’s ongoing Sport for Development programme which focus on developing life skills and building children’s cognitive, social and physical abilities through sport. They also provide a platform to inform children of their rights and of ways to protect themselves from possible exploitation and abuse.

‘UNICEF encourages all South Africans, especially children, to share in the fun and excitement generated by the FIFA World Cup by participating in sport activities within their own communities,’ Ms Girma said.

“UNICEF is inspired by the support and enthusiasm we received from the South African Government and our other partners in the planning of this programme. It demonstrates their solid commitment to making children’s well-being a priority. We are looking forward to working with them to improve access to quality child care support in South Africa.”

For additional information, please contact UNICEF South Africa:

All UNICEF South Africa activities,
Aida Girma. Representative, UNICEF South Africa
Tel +27 (0) 12 354 8236 / +27 (0) 82 561 0196
agirma@unicef.org

Malathi Pillai, Deputy Representative, UNICEF South Africa
Tel +27 (0) 82 561 3973 / +27 (0) 12 354 8238
mpillai@unicef.org

Child protection and Child friendly spaces
Stephen Blight, Chief of Child Protection
Tel +27 (0)12 354 8271 / +27 (0) 82 561 1426
slbight@unicef.org

Sport for Development
Nadi Albino, Chief of Education
Tel +27 (12) 354 8201
nalbino@unicef.org

Nokunthula Prusent
Tel +27 79 499 4303
nprusent@unicef.org

Children on the Move
Shantha Bloemen, Communication Chief UNICEF Africa Services Unit
Tel +27 79 495 5938
sbloemen@unicef.org

Media queries:
Yvonne Duncan
Tel +27 82 561 3970
yduncan@unicef.org

Katarzyna Pawelczyk
Tel + 27 73 156 3650
kpawelczyk@unicef.org



UNICEF - Press centre - UNICEF announces key actions to enhance child protection during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond

allAfrica.com: Africa: 2010 Fifa World Cup Boosts Continent's Human Trafficking

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Issa Sikiti Da Silva

15 January 2010

"This is an African World Cup and every African must somehow benefit from it," a human trafficker told Bizcommunity.com this week, requesting 'absolute' anonymity.

Since 2004, the year SA was chosen to organise the World Cup, human trafficking 'offices' have been opened at various African countries, where unscrupulous people working as 'agents' register desperate people dying to get to the 'final destination' (SA) to seek any form of employment or business opportunities.

"Our agents coordinate our clients' travel arrangements and send them to a certain point, where I go fetch them and bring them into SA from Beit Bridge.

"With no passports, no visa or any form of paper, their entry is guaranteed by our connections and it is easy as long as you can speak the correct language," the source said, referring to bribes.

The source said business has been booming since 2004, adding every month they bring at least 50, 70 and sometimes 100 people, which makes it close to 1200 people each year, at a price ranging from US$2000 (about R15 000) to US$6000 (about R44 500), depending on the country of departure.

"Many women are now registering more than men because they believe they can offer their services to tourists and soccer fans during the World Cup."

But victims get the shock of their lives when they find out that they are there are no jobs, and left to fend for themselves, and sometimes being forced into sex slavery and prostitution, arranged marriages, 419 scams and drug pushing.

A human trafficking victim, who asked not to be named, said: "I was promised a job at a luxury hotel that is frequented by European tourists, but it never materialised and now I am suffering here and regretting falling prey to this scam."

Asked if she could recognise the person who brought them here, she said:

"If I see his face, I would surely recognise him but he is nowhere to be seen. But one day we will meet somewhere," she said emotionally.

According to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking Persons of the US State Department, at least 800 000 people are trafficked each year across international borders, 80% of which are women and girls.

"The trafficking industry is represented as sordid and exploitative, with traffickers being condemned and victims portrayed as deserving assistance," Gender Links South Africa reported in its Cyber Dialogues - Making It Work for Gender Justice.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said that without appropriate language skills, supportive social network, and laws and customs that she understands, the trafficked woman feels isolated and disoriented, and it is this feeling that makes her particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

Author and media analyst Denis Kayenge Kinkufi said African media must give a helping hand to forcefully expose human trafficking.

"When media is too much involved in political and sensational reporting, it tends to overlook dangerous social ills that affect society, and as a society's watchdog, the media has a duty to denounce aggressively this shameful practice."

The trafficker said: "We are not criminals and we have done nothing wrong. On the contrary we are helping people help themselves and in the process helping Africa to eradicate poverty and destitution. There is so much misery and hunger out there, and the 2010 is a golden opportunity to be seized with both hands.

allAfrica.com: Africa: 2010 Fifa World Cup Boosts Continent's Human Trafficking

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MediaGlobal: International Organization for Migration releases video educating youth about human trafficking

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By Alison Walkley

04 December 2009 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has just released an animated video online in an effort to educate youth about human trafficking specifically in South Africa.

Human trafficking victims often experience violent abuse, both physical and mental, and tend to be young women forced into sexual slavery. Children comprise one fifth of trafficking victims. Since the Internet is now used as a recruiting measure for traffickers, aimed at youth, IOM wanted their video on the dangers of the practice to be online and animated, targeting the same age groups as the traffickers themselves.

As an IOM press release explained, “The animation recounts the story of a group of young children who meet a trafficker on their way to school. They have to decide whether to follow him when he promises them a better life. In class they are taught about internal and cross-border trafficking using case studies, and this knowledge helps them to avoid becoming victims of trafficking.”

Nde Ndifonka, information officer for IOM Pretoria, told MediaGlobal, “Young people are increasingly using the Internet for different purposes. They are also a vulnerable group to trafficking. This animated video is part of IOM’s activities that raise awareness on the reality and dangers of human trafficking, and aim to minimize its occurrence.”

This idea for an animated video on the subject, according to Ndifonka, “came from the need to address the Internet as a recruitment forum used by traffickers. In addition, we are taking advantage of the fact that the Internet is a cheap, easy, and effective means of disseminating information.”

South Africa has been targeted for this IOM project due to the fact that the country “has been found to be a…source, transit and destination for victims of trafficking,” Ndifonka explained. “The relative socio-economic stability of South Africa in the Southern African region makes it a prime destination for people in search of economic opportunities. At the same time, there is a high demand for cheap labor and sex services in the country. These factors make it an attractive destination for traffickers, who often exploit the willingness of people to travel to South Africa in search of better opportunities to lure them into exploitation.”

There is also a prevalence for “internal trafficking” in the country, “where vulnerable people living in impoverished communities in the rural areas and informal settlements are trafficked to major urban centers…for exploitation in forced labor or sexual slavery.”

The fact that South Africa is home to well-constructed transportation systems also makes it “a transit hub for trafficking victims who are being moved from the region to other continents,” Ndifonka informed.

The approaching 2010 World Cup in the country has also increased human trafficking in South Africa, which is another pressing reason “to sensitize young people about dangers of human trafficking, as some criminal elements may exploit the event to foster their criminal activities, including human trafficking,” Ndifonka added.

Over the last decade or so, IOM has assisted about 20,000 human trafficking victims total, over 300 of which were in South Africa. “IOM provides assistance and support to victims of trafficking, conducts research into human trafficking trends, raises awareness of the problem amongst the general public, and provides training to law enforcement officials and NGO service providers in the region,” Ndifonka noted.

IOM supplies shelter, medical assistance, counseling and even skills training to trafficking victims, helping them come to terms with their experiences and make a life for themselves as well. “Beneficiaries usually wish to return home,” Ndifonka said, “and IOM assists them to do so. IOM usually provides reintegration to these beneficiaries in their home country.”

In addition, IOM runs phone “help lines” that can be used by the public to report suspected cases, or to learn more about human trafficking.

To view IOM’s anti-trafficking video, visit www.iom.org.za.

MEDIAGLOBAL is the global news agency, based in the United Nations Secretariat, creating awareness in the media for the countries of the global South, with a strong focus on South-South Cooperation. The media company is one of the leading providers of information on global development issues facing vulnerable countries. MediaGlobal's news stories are read by leaders of developed countries, the global media, policymakers in donor countries, non-governmental organizations and key personnel in the United Nations Secretariat, its agencies and managers in the field worldwide. Please contact us at: UNITED NATIONS, Room 301, UN Secretariat, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: 212.963.9878. Mobile: 609.529.6129. Email: media@mediaglobal.org. Website:www.mediaglobal.org

http://www.mediaglobal.org/article/2009-12-04/international-organization-for-migration-releases-video-educating-youth-about-human-trafficking

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The rise of human trafficking in SA: Women24: Wellness: BodyAndSpirit

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The 2010 World Cup will see not only an influx of tourists, but also a rise in human trafficking.

Article: Rebecca Pursell

The Soccer World Cup represents major economic opportunities for South Africa. It represents the possibility of showcasing South Africa to the world, and everything it is possible of accomplishing. However, the less glamorous side is the possible increase in sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

South Africa represents a beacon of hope to many poor and destitute people who come from countries across the continent in pursuit of a better life. Many people move with clear intentions and plans. However, many are also misled and find themselves in exploitive and dangerous situations.

Human trafficking is slavery
In some cases, women move to South Africa’s cities, especially Johannesburg, on the promise of better opportunities. On arriving in the city, women quickly realise that this is far from what was expected. In some cases they may be exploited for cheap labour, and worse, sold into forced sex work.

The glamour of the World Cup will further contribute to the increased movement of women and children to major cities. A Project Manager of a local shelter had the following to say about trafficking and sexual exploitation “If we do not get the message out to rural and isolated communities, women and children will continue to come to Johannesburg. We need to help them know that trafficking happens, it can happen to anyone, and it can be done by someone you know.”

Children are vulnerable
Children who arrive in South Africa from other countries are even more vulnerable. Sometimes these children are fortunate enough to escape. One such person is Jessie, a young girl from Angola.

Jessie* came to South Africa from Angola with a man who her mother knew. Her mother agreed for Jessie to travel to the country to go to school. She was taken to live with a family in Edenvale, close to the airport.

Jessie was kept inside to clean the house and forced to have sex with the man who brought her to South Africa. After a few months, Jessie escaped from the house and found herself in the inner city of Johannesburg. She was 14-years-old in a country with no family and in a place she did not know.

After two nights of sleeping outside, she was approached by another young girl who said she would show her how to get money. Jessie found herself working on the street as a sex worker, until she was identified and placed in a shelter. Jessie is recovering and now able to go to school. This case is one of the more fortunate ones. In many others, girls and women are not able to escape, and do not find the help they need.

The movement of people to South Africa for the Soccer World Cup is not solely fuelled by perceived economic opportunity. There is a curiosity and desire to be involved and witness to a major sporting event. It is expected that many young children, who will also not be attending school during the mega-event, will seek transport to stadium cities to be part of the festivities.

The absence of alternative recreational activities during this period and the large volume of local and foreign visitors are expected to contribute to increased risk for vulnerable children. Children may be travelling unaccompanied and may use cheap or free travel in the form of hiking from truck drivers or travelling in long-distance taxis.

Exploitation
Upon arrival in stadium cities, children will likely be unsupervised and easily susceptible to exploitation by adults. This can take the form of sexual exploitation or use of children to commit crime. These are the social faces of the Soccer World Cup which are not receiving the same amount of attention and resources as the stadiums, opening events and accommodation.

Child Protection organisations are lobbying at a provincial and national level for the decision regarding the closure of schools to be reviewed, and for additional resources to be earmarked for the protection of children during this period. Some such activities include the use of community volunteers in the areas surrounding the stadiums, community awareness of the nature of trafficking, and the particular risks faced by children who are unsupervised and located in proximity to stadiums, hotels and public gathering places.

Raising awareness about the problem of child trafficking during the 16 Days of Activism will ensure that communities and children know about this problem, and send the message to local and international visitors that South Africa cares about its women and children.

* Not her real name. Rebecca Pursell is a Social Worker with Khulisa Management Services. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service series for the 16 Days of Activism.

http://www.women24.com/Content/Wellness/BodyAndSpirit/2502/5390c8dd620c4df58583bcb25af4d2bc/07-12-2009-11-33/The_rise_of_human_trafficking_in_SA

Spotlight on trafficking syndicates ahead of 2010 | West Cape News

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Beverley Houston

As the world’s media focuses its attention on the Fifa World Cup 2010 Final Draw in Cape Town on December 4, few will be aware of the impact the tournament may have on the lives of vulnerable women and children targeted by trafficking syndicates.

National Trafficking Awareness Day, which takes place two days before the draw, on December 2, hopes to raise some awareness about the global problem.

“The huge influx of people over this period will drive demand. Of equal concern is the amount of school age children who will be trafficked during this time. We have already come across cases of children going missing in schools and we expect this to escalate over the 2010 period,” said Natalie Bulling, coordinator for Red Light Human Trafficking, an initiative started with the intention of combating and creating awareness about the disturbing prevalence of human trafficking in Southern Africa.

Concerns have been raised by Red Light and other organisations operating in this field, that more than 100 000 people could be trafficked into the country during the World Cup.

Currently South Africa has no legislation to cover human trafficking; as a result, a lot of cases slip through the radar. “The absence of legislation has impacted on the data-collection, investigation and prosecution of people involved with in-country and cross border trafficking,” said Julayga Alfred, Director of Activists Networking against the Exploitation of Child Domestic Workers (Anex CDW).

A global report on trafficking has identified South Africa as source, transit and destination country for the trafficking of women, men and children. The Trafficking in Person’s (TIP) report has put South Africa on the Tier Two Watch list, for the fourth consecutive year for its failure to show increasing efforts to address trafficking. More than 175 countries are included in the report, the most comprehensive worldwide research on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons. Ranging from Tier One to Three, the Tier Two Watch list places South Africa in a danger zone in terms of compliance with laws to prevent trafficking.

Director of child rights organisation Molo Songololo, Patric Solomons, said children have been identified as the most vulnerable during the World Cup.

“The vulnerable status of children places them at particular risk of being exploited by their elders in the hope of economic gain. Pull factors specifically related to the 2010 Fifa World Cup are mostly linked to poorer communities’ perceptions regarding the socio-economic benefits of the event,” said Solomons.

The United Nations estimates that child trafficking generates $US7 to $10 billion annually for traffickers, citing trafficking in persons as the second most lucrative crime around the world next to the drug trade.

Solomons said the importance of large-scale awareness campaigns during the World Cup, which is expected to generate more than $4-billion, the highest revenue in World Cup history, is of the utmost importance. - West Cape News

http://westcapenews.com/?p=1220

Warning on 2010 sex trafficking

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By Clayton Barnes October 26 2009 at 05:31PM Traffickers and pimps would exploit the opportunity of the World Cup with promises of jobs and thousands of dollars in cash, a child rights expert has warned. Speaking in the city at a round-table discussion on child sexual exploitation and the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Susan Kreston, a Fulbright professor and research fellow at the Centre for Psychology and Law at the University of the Free State, said women and children would be especially targeted during the event. Tough economic times and the five-week mid-year school holiday may lead to both adults and children searching for opportunities to get extra cash. Debt bondage is just one of the many ways people get trapped in trafficking' "Debt bondage is just one of the many ways people get trapped in trafficking," said Kreston. "The trafficker would offer the adult or child large amounts of money, or make promises of a good job with a good lifestyle in one of the 2010 host cities or abroad, but then the victims would be expected to sell their bodies or be mutilated as a form of repayment." Kreston said 12.3-million people were trafficked annually across the world. One in 10 of these was a child. She said children from as young as six were targeted by traffickers and pimps. They faced a future of being sexually violated up to six times a day. Child pornography and cases of children using their cellphones to film each other having sex and swopping or selling the pictures, were also expected to spike during the World Cup. "Children need to realise that this is a crime and that they could be selling these images to paedophiles who could make a living out of swapping their images with other criminals," she said. 'The closure of schools during the World Cup is our biggest concern' Kreston said an overarching law against trafficking was needed before the World Cup. She urged the government to fast-track the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill. Patric Solomons, the director of child rights group Molo Songololo, said child prostitution rings were growing rapidly across the Western Cape. He said police in several areas, including Mitchells Plain, Manenberg, Khayelitsha, Athlone, Delft and Eerste River, were investigating reports of children being prostituted along the main routes. "The closure of schools during the World Cup is our biggest concern," Solomons said. "The government, with the private sector and NGOs, needs to get programmes running during that period. If not, we will definitely see a large number of children being trafficked or lured into prostitution." The Department of Education said the five-week holiday period would not be changed. Earlier, officials said there was an extensive consultation process before the 2010 school calendar was determined. Solomons added that the 2010 local organising committee and the police had noted the lack of child safety measures in their World Cup plans, and were addressing this. It is believed that 40 000 women and children were trafficked during the World Cup in Germany in 2006, and it is estimated that close to 100 000 could be affected next year. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20091026124713537C392565

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