News
MeCAHT Conference
Human Trafficking, Its everyone’s business
Human trafficking, one of the fastest-growing activities of trans-national criminal organizations in the world that generates billions of dollars per annum.
Human trafficking is not just sexual slavery but also for the purpose of forced labour, forced marriage, child marriage, Organ smuggling, surrogacy Human trafficking can occur within a country or trans-nationally. Human trafficking is a crime against the person because of the violation of the victim’s rights of movement through coercion and because of their commercial exploitation. Human trafficking is the trade in people, especially women and children, and does not necessarily involve the movement of the person from one place to another.
According to the international Labour Organisation, (ILO), forced labour alone (one component of human trafficking) generates an estimated $150 billion in profits per annum. ILO estimated that 21 million victims are trapped in modern-day slavery. Of these, 14.2 million (68%) were exploited for labour, 4.5 million (22%) were sexually exploited, and 2.2 million (10%) were exploited in state-imposed forced labour. The International Labour Organization has reported that child workers, minorities, and irregular migrants are at considerable risk of more extreme forms of exploitation. Statistics shows that over half of the world’s 215 million young workers are observed to be in hazardous sectors, including forced sex work.
Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.
Hope to Heal Foundation had the pleasure of attending the 6th Annual MeCAHT Conference. Great partnerships where formed with many Speakers & NGOs, I am looking forward to working together and your support to the National Talk for Freedom 2020.
If you suspect trafficking or is aware of an incident, report it to CRIME STOP on 08600 10111
or contact Hope to Heal Foundation on 078 906 7461.
The Organizers of MeCAHT Conference
Anne Abok, is the international Director of MeCHAT. Anne’s passion for social change and Godly transformation for society, led her to co-pioneer Media Village in Nigeria with her husband. Anne is a film maker and uses her skills for social change. Over 840 people have been equipped in missions and with media skills. In 2008, Anne Pioneered Media Champaign Against Huma Trafficking (MeCAHT).
Marina Reyneke is the director of National Freedom Network in South Africa. She has been volunteering with NFN for the past 20 years. Marina is dedicated to fighting injustices related to poverty, gender inequality, racism and human trafficking. Marina has great passion to make a difference in society and
Grant & Peta Ann Small, from SA, living in Bulgaria, is the founder and directors of Ngenious Business Solutions (South Africa) and Transform BG (Bulgaria). Grant is also a Pastor and Elder at Liberty Church (SA & UK). Together they are the co-founders of Set Free Foundation in Bulgaria, an anti – human trafficking organisation.
Blessing Anya Hutchinson, from Nigeria and living in South Africa working as the Gauteng Coordinator for Media Campaign Against Human Trafficking (MeCAHT) She is an anti-human trafficking activist and advocates for health, human rights, child protection. Blessing is a certified Peace Faciliatory trained by the UN Peace Mission.
Advocate Rasigie Bhika, a National Prosecutor with the National Prosecuting Authority since 1987. She is a High Court Advocate who currently holds the rank of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, South Gauteng. She has extensive experience in High Court litigations, having conducted many High Court trials on murder, robbery and rape. Amongst her highlights in successful prosecuting, was securing a conviction in a serial murder case where the court imposed 10 life sentences and 145 years imprisonment. Most recently Advocate Rasigie Bhika conducted a trial of smuggling of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe to South Africa where eight life terms were imposed to the accused. She works closely with South African Police, providing guidance in investigating of different cases, particularly, human trafficking matters. Advocate Rasigie Bhika, focuses on sexual offenses, gender-based violence, domestic violence, children in conflict with the law, child accused, child victims, child pornography, human trafficking and victim empowerment. She also provides training for various organisations on South African legislation governing human trafficking.
Sa’adatu Adamu, Founder of Secure D Future International & Counsellor and Psychologist and Specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Secure D Future International, is an organization focused on mental health and psychosocial activities. In achieving this is using three dimensions,
1. Prevention – Creating awareness through campaigns, awareness and advocacy with programs running at schools.
2. Intervention – Through counselling, psychometric testing, behavior modification therapy and psychotherapy.
3. Post Care – Partner with organizations that provide shelters, safe-houses orphanage, rehabilitation centers and psychiatric hospitals to absorb clients in need of psychological support
Dr Kyle Miller, from the United States, has been providing Beatitude Model Counselling and training for thirty-four years in Austin, Texas, USA. He has travelled to sixteen countries on twenty-five trips to offer Beatitude Trauma Model training to workers reaching sex trafficking victims and survivors, war and genocide survivors and natural disaster survivors. Dr Kyle has a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and will be providing self-defense lessons, a training he also gives to trafficking survivors in recovery ministry homes.
Helen Sworn from UK, founder of Chab Dai (meaning ‘joining hands’ in Khmer) Coalition (Cambodia) in 2005. She led Chab Dai’s growth to include the development of projects for prevention, capacity building, case and legal support and community-based client care for survivors and the longitudinal research and now has a local team of 58staff, led by a national Director. Since Chad Dai’s interception, Helen has been at the forefront of facilitating collaboration and collective action amongst anti-trafficking and human rights organisations globally. Helen also heads up the Global Learning Community Projects, which works with over 100 ant-human trafficking stakeholders from more than 20 countries in order to strengthen and foster a comprehensive, connected and competent anti-trafficking movement. Helen has been working in the field of counter human trafficking and exploitation since 1999. Helen strong believes in multi-level networking and collaboration after witnessing the lack of coordinated response to human trafficking
Samantha Stokesberry is a public speaker, writer, teacher and missionary who has passion for empowering and restoring the broken, the abused and hurting. She has the privilege of ministering in prisons, homeless shelters, halfway homes, schools, brothels, churches and safe houses. She has partnered and serve with ministries and organisations that are working towards the fight against the injustice of sexual abuse, human trafficking, across Africa, Latin America and North America. Sam is committed to equipping, teaching and motivating others who also want to bring restoration and freedom to victims and survivors of trafficking globally. Sam is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Professional Counselling through Liberty University, with the goal of counselling survivors of sex trafficking during their healing and recovery process.
Gavin & Darylne Nandh, from Live Free Foundation, is inspired by Gods call to love all people and seek justice for the oppressed. Live free Foundation does raise awareness and educate society on Human Trafficking
