Soroptismst International (SI) is acting against the mistreatment of women and girls throughout the world and is now focusing on the Eastern Cape on a mission to stop human trafficking.
Soroptismst International (SI) is acting against the mistreatment of women and girls throughout the world and is now focusing on the Eastern Cape on a mission to stop human trafficking.
The Grahamstown branch of SI has been greatly concerned about numerous incidents of human trafficking across the globe and the significant increase in the Southern African region.
In order to make people more aware of this human rights violation, the Grahamstowm SI have commissioned the design of a pamphlet in conjunction with the SAPF providing information to the public in this regard.
Last week the President of SI Grahamstown, Prof Beverly Ramstad, handed over approximately 1500 pamphlets to Grahamstown SAPF Cluster Commander Brigadier Vakala Moyake and Port Alfred SAPF Cluster and Station Commander Colonel Lizette Zeelie for distribution in their policing clusters.
The pamphlets were also issued to Famsa and other NGOs early last week in order to ensure that as much information as possible gets out there.
Although the pamphlet is mainly written in English, an Afrikaans and Xhosa version will be made available should there be such a demand.
The pamphlet was designed by Rhodes University Journalism lecturer Shalen “Casper” Gajadhar and reflects on the possibility and reality of the selling of people, specifically women and children, to slavery and forced prostitution.
A vital fact highlighted by the pamphlets is that in the Eastern Cape children under the age of 18 are kidnapped from shopping centres or bought from their parents by overseas buyers who promise that
they will provide them with education but never bring them back home.
The Grahamstown SAPF is greatly concerned about human trafficking and will coordinate and ensure the safety of any victim when informed about them.
For relevant assistance contact Sergeant Gaye Mckenzie on 082 3740 937 or Eastern Cape Captain Magwanqana on 040 608 8390 or 082 301 1528.
