Human Trafficking is one of the fasted growing organised crimes in the world, affecting millions of lives and generating billions of dollars profit per annum. It is a serious crime, a grave violation of a person’s human rights and an egregious assault on its victims.
Although Slavery was abolished in the 18th Century, Modern-Day Slavery has become a momentous global crisis in the 21st Century and is often the cause for human trafficking.
Innocent children are robbed of their innocence and freedom of life and are exploited into various types of human trafficking such as, child labour, child pornography, soldiers, child marriages /Ukuthwala. According to the United Nations report 2020, children from vulnerable communities are at high risk of being exploited into child labour, due to the global economic crises.
South Africa and the world are in tremendous need of active, visible retaliation towards this crime. Hope to Heal Foundation recognises the plight and cry of the victims of human trafficking across the world, our world is bleeding from this heinous crime. The Hope to Heal Foundation is committed to work together with National and Global Stakeholders to abolish human trafficking.
We are sending out an SOS globally, to Presidential offices, every person of prominence, Corporate, Department of Justice and Correctional Services, Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights Activists, Research teams, Medical, Legal, Aviation, Ports, rise and raise your voice against human trafficking by coming aboard and configurating yourself – organisation with the Global Action for Freedom 2021.
The reason for the summit is due the global crises that is feeding into the South African Context of Human Trafficking in Persons.
To give effect to South Africa’s obligation to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Person, especially women and children, the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 (Act No.7 of 2013) was introduced. The TIP Act deals comprehensively with human trafficking in all its various forms and provides for the protection of and assistance to victims of trafficking. Persons engaged with trafficking will be liable on conviction to a severe fine or imprisonment, including imprisonment for life, or such imprisonment without the option of a fine or both. In adhering to the TIP act and global stance for combatting Human Trafficking the National Policy Framework for TIP was completed and finalized in 2019. The NPF seeks to ensure all government departments and other engaged stakeholders from civil society are collectively guided in the implementation of anti-trafficking responses and of their statutory responsibilities.
In particular, the NPF intends to support the implementation of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons, 2013 (Act No. 7 of 2013), which aims to ensure that the criminal justice system is effective in prosecuting the criminals and protects the victims of trafficking in persons, promoting a cooperative and aligned response among all government departments, as well as with civil society organizations engaged in assisting and supporting trafficked persons. As a strategic planning tool, the national policy framework is also key to secure political and financial support and to ensure rational use of resources and effective responses.
South Africa has taken great strides in the attempts to eradicate human trafficking, from the implementation of the TIP Act, the finalization of the National Policy Framework on Trafficking to the TIP Intersectoral trainings. However, there is still a lot more groundwork, structural changes and policy alignments that need to be done as this social problem of human trafficking is ever evolving. The key stone in combatting this ever-growing changing ill is collaboration, coordination, and partnerships of all stake holders to work in an integrated manner within respective sectors, communities, and platforms.
Although the South African Government has implemented the above to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, there are many gaps in the system. Therefore, Hope to Heal Foundation together with the South African Government and various other entities are expecting to resolve these gaps through this summit by establishing new international and national relationships and strengthening the existing ones. Due to these gaps and the effect of Covid 19 South Africa has seen itself moving from tier 2 to tier 2 Watchlist according to the United Nations report.
To strengthen our fight against trafficking in persons and eliminate these gaps we need to create awareness as far and wide, and this will be achieved through The Global Action for Freedom Summit 2021.
Currently due to limited resources South Africa does not have Safe homes / shelters, exclusive to human trafficking. Victims are being placed together with victims of gender-based violence. The Hope to Heal Foundation steps in to fill this gap, opening the first Wellness Centre. The Centre not only provides a safe place with basic need, but we also provide professional trauma informed survives and rehabilitation programmes. The aim of this the Hope to Heal Wellness Centre is for victims to become survivors and leaders in society.
South Africa has been seen as country of destination and transit for this heinous crime. Through this Global Summit we want to change that view by collaborating with other countries across the world and formulating more aggressive measures to combat human trafficking. We as a nation are rising up and raising our voices against Human Trafficking.
Due global economic crises resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving more people vulnerable to human trafficking, especially children. Researchers has also discovered that the measures that have been put in place to curb the spread of the virus has increased the risk of trafficking for people who finds themselves in vulnerable situations due to job losses therefore resulting in further exploitation and limited access to essential service. According to the United Nations office on Drug Trafficking and Crime, lockdown and limitations have made if more difficult for victims to escape due to border closured and many rescued victims are forced to remain in shelters in countries where they were exploited.
Lockdown, school closures and increased poverty rates during the pandemic have led to an increase in child labour, girls entering child marriages or boys being recruited into armed groups or gangs and exploited material online has increased considerably and this was found by the researchers on a National Counter Trafficking study in South Africa in June 2021.
All human beings are born free with equal rights and dignity. However, we are facing a worldwide concern as millions of people are being sold across the world and exploited for profit.
Victims are the key actors in the fight against human trafficking and it is important that their voices are heard by using platforms like this summit.
Human trafficking relinquishes people freedom. We have discovered that there are countries that practice certain cultural and social systems that hinders and restricts a person right to life, liberty, security, right to freedom of movement, right not to be objected to torture cruel to inhuman treatment or punishment. Human trafficking is a human rights violation.
The objective of the summit is to unite individuals with the same hopes of eradicating human trafficking and freeing those who are being held captive in modern day slavery, to create awareness on this crime with the intent of preventing and protecting those vulnerable from falling victim to human trafficking and pursing the desired goal of global freedom.
Gender based violence and Human Trafficking are the two crimes against humanity, which is on an alarming rise due to the pandemic. According to the research conducted by the UNODC, women and girls are being further exposed to violence and harassment and are at a greater risk of being trafficked due to the global economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic women and girls were already exposed to different forms of violence, and lockdown restrictions as well as the measures implemented during the pandemic has led to an increase in Gender Based Violence according to the U.N and has been called s “shadow pandemic”. Due to women’s economic inequalities, they are more vulnerable to Human trafficking and sexual violence according to the U.N Women.” Forty-seven million more women and girls will be pushed to extreme poverty because of COVID-19 but business is booming for traffickers” Phumzile Mfambo-Ngcuka, U.N Women.
In South Africa despite the stricter measures being put in place by government and the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide, this crime against women and girls are still on the rise. The Government Gender Based Violence and Femicide Command Centre, a call centre to support victims of G.B.V recorded more than 120,000 victims in the first three weeks of the lockdown. Prior to the pandemic femicide in S.A. was already five times higher than the global average and the female interpersonal violence death rate was the fourth highest out of the 183 countries listed by the World Health Organization.
Due to this research, Gender Based Violence and Human Trafficking are inter-linked. Therefore, the fight against Gender Based Violence and its impact globally needs to be addressed highlighted at the summit.
We are kindly requesting support to put together a Steering Committee from the following Organisations.
The Global Initiative to fight human trafficking
The office the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees
The United Nations Inter-Agencies Project in Human Trafficking in the greater
Nekong Sub-Region
The United Nations Children Fund
United Nations Inter Regional Crime and Justice research institutes
United Nations development funds for women
United Nations Interim Administrative mission Kosovo
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
World Health Organisation
UNICEF
Hague
Law Enforcements and Prosecution
International Criminal Justice
National and Global Speakers
Civil Society
Non-Governmental Organisation
There is a lot of great work taking place globally and this summit will allow for greater networking as well as new learnings.
This event will be different in that it will bring many voices together – Professionals,
Government Officials, Survivors, Civil Society workers, prominent people, corporate.
It will also speak into a way forward and a united action plan on how to bring wholeness from the brokenness, the world currently finds itself in.
Great benefit to the global public large to join in on the virtual event.
Every voice counts.People who are seeking healing, people who have answers and good resources.
Government Main Departments
Anti-TIP Coordinating structures
Civil Society
Non-Governmental Organizations
The event seeks to highlight not only sexual exploitation but other forms of human trafficking which are often overlooked, such as, Labour, Mining, Agriculture, Domestic Servitude.
To bring problem solvers together
Share information and resources.
Collaboration and partnerships with global stakeholders.
An opportunity for Civil Society to work with Government – locally and globally
Creating a WEB of Global Networks and Partnerships
Education is essential
Create consumer awareness
A ban of sexual and Child exploitation
Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays a particularly important foundation for all that will happen at these conversations around freedom of choice and freedom of life
Create a strategic Action Plan to end Slavery
Informed trauma services for victims and survivors of human trafficking are imperative now more than ever before. We have a social responsibility towards the vulnerable, susceptible, defenceless populations of the world. To achieve this, we must become the voice of those trapped in modern-day slavery.
For the world to see a decrease in this organized crime that has been escalating over the years, world leaders need to take a firm stand and implements stringent sanctions and a zero tolerance towards Trafficking in Persons.
Publish an E-Book from content from National Global Speakers and Survivors
Giving the world hope for positive visible change
Solutions in protecting our vulnerable
Educational Awareness Workshops for schools and adults – (educate, identify and report)
Publishing an E-Book
The event aims to target:
Various countries across the globe
Involvement of various entities, organisations, State Officials, and Professionals across the Globe.
Publishing an E-Book from content from National Global Speakers and Survivors
Exact venue to be confirmed
It is necessary that the event takes place at a paid facility within the Gauteng Region
The venue should accommodate 30 guests
Parking to cater for the specified number of participants
The facility must offer a five day conference package.
There are no free facilities available therefore we need support.
The programme will consist of guest speakers globally who are specialists in Trafficking in Persons and Gender-Based Violence.
These experts will share their knowledge and information on the above-mentioned topics with the aim of upskilling, empowering, and providing the necessary learning tools to prevent and combat human trafficking and Gender-Based Violence globally.
Funding is Crucial
To sustain the Wellness Centre and the Action for Freedom project.
Funding for the Summit
Hiring of venue including catering
Branding and printing
Marketing
Audio Visual Equipment and production costs
IT / Internet Cost
Air and Ground transportation
Accommodation
Other service charges
Gala Dinner
Minibus (9-seater)
We will be doing a National road trip to promote the Summit and create awareness on Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence.
On behalf of management and team of the Hope to Heal Foundation, we take this opportunity to thank you kindly, for your sincere support, valuable time, and contributions towards the Hope to Heal Vision.
“Where Healing begins, and Dignity is Restored”
Yours in Hope
Seema Naidoo
Founder & CEO