REALISING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CONTINENTAL ACTION STEPS

1. REALISING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CONTINENTAL ACTION STEPS Human Trafficking Research Conference, Benoni, South Africa 23 to 24 March 2010

2. BACKGROUND • All-Africa Regional Conference, Rosebank, South Africa from July 2009 • Representatives from Angola, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe • Objectives to conduct a Situational analysis of the modern-day slavery in the continent, share best practices and identify targeted regional interventions, based on Ouagadougou Action Plan adopted by the African Union and European Union in 2006 • Encourage the development of complementary National Action Plans • In support of AU.Commit Campaign launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 16 June 2009

3. CONTINENTAL ACTION STEP 1 Victim Support Mechanisms Strengthening of existing Shelters and Safe houses, capacitating of staff and provision of relevant resources for victims of trafficking, through the establishment of inter-sectoral task force at regional level, which will also be responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation

4. CONTINENTAL ACTION STEP 2 Capacity-building and development Initiate continental training and skills development mechanisms and a programme for law enforcement, border officials, social service providers, civil society partners, prosecutors and the judiciary.

5. CONTINENTAL ACTION STEP 3 Prevention and Public Education National, Local and Regional campaigns to educate potential users of trafficked persons and raise awareness among traditional leaders Improve targeting of communities that are likely to be vulnerable through government social assistance programmes (Cash assistance programmes and family support service)

6. CONTINENTAL ACTION STEPS 4. Integration of Public Policies And Legislation Align legislation, especially penalties while improving country cooperation and the exchange of evidence, extradition processes and the repatriation of victims as well as the sharing of databases 5. Response Networks and Focus Points Use intelligence networks to inform the establishment and management of Multi- disciplinary Service Centres

7. KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS Finding 2 - Trafficking streams • Trafficking to South Africa from outside the continent • Trafficking to South Africa from within the continent • Trafficking within South Africa’s borders • South Africa as a transit point to other countries

8. Finding 2 – Trafficking streams • OR Tambo International Airport, Jhb as main port of entry: Similarities and dissimilarities in the trafficking of victims from outside the continent (Bulgaria, China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Thailand, and the Ukraine) and those from African countries • Examination of challenges in countries of origin enabling trafficking: 1. Short distance flows: Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe 2. Longer-distance flow: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda • Inter-linkages between victims from rural areas in border communities and victims from neighbouring countries • Targeted interventions to prevent use of South Africa as a transit point to Lesotho and Swaziland with foreign countries as final destinations • Trafficking of South African victims into Zimbabwe

9. Finding 3 – Victims of trafficking • Confirmation of vulnerability of women and increased sexual exploitation of under-age girls to prevent HIV& AIDS infection, while posing this risk to the victims • Engagement with South African mining industry and Narcotics Units in relation to the trafficking of Basotho boys for child labour, particularly in Free State and Northern Cape as well as drug smuggling

10. Finding 4 – Forms of exploitation • Partnerships with tourism structures and further investigation into existence of sex tourism trend beyond South Africa • Support for the Department of Home Affairs’ undocumented migrants initiative as well as the programmes of the Department of Labour inspectors (agricultural, hospitality, security and retail industries) and organised labour in SA, including stemming the tide of exploitative labour brokerage practices • Formalisation of working relationships with Traditional leaders (Gauteng case study and Limpopo SAPS Unit) and Albino organisations as a vulnerable group

11. Finding 5 - Traffickers • Diaspora communities as reception areas and channels of victims • Taxi drivers and truck drivers • Enabling elements in the Zimbabwe transport routes to Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia: malayishas, guma gumas

12. Finding 7 – Enabling factors • Largely unpatrolled land borders: short term and long-term plans by concerned government departments • Corruption of officials on entry and exit points of the border

13. Finding 8 – Vulnerabilities and cultural practices • Job creation policies • Alignment with anti-xenophobia initiatives • Traditional leadership programmes on forced marriages (ukuthwala, chobeliso, kuripi ngozi) and Virginity testing • Inclusion of possible harmful effects of family patronage in awareness campaigns

14. Finding 10 – Victim assistance • Standard capacity building programme for service providers • Plan for increase of shelters, particularly in identified areas, linked to the rollout of SA Thuthuzela Care Centre model in other countries in the continent • Programme to rehabilitate victims forced into drug dependency in country of trafficking and source country

15. CONTINENTAL ACTION STEP 6 Preparation of the Africa Group Towards the UN Conference of the Parties

16. CONTEXT • Coordination of Africa’s position in fulfillment of country obligations to UN Convention and Palermo Protocol: Africa needs to speak as a single voice • Sourcing of technical assistance, capacity building and training • Human rights and development approach over and above law enforcement • Goals, aims and outcomes should be clear through identification of shortcomings (including lack of statistics) and development of plan to achieve these aims • Knowledge of the structure of the UN Process in terms of the agenda critical • Yearly meetings (Sudan represented Africa), led by UNODC • AU level (Labour and Social Affairs Committee) meeting in September chaired by Libya: team members to be put together (Bureau) • Host Country RSA to inform other countries of current conference and that it’s issues should be included in the Labour and Social Affairs Committee Meeting

17. Preparation of the Africa Group Towards The UN Conference of the Parties Recommendation 1 - Speed up the ratification of the UN Convention and Protocol Recommendation 2 – Integrate Ouagadougou Action Plan within UNODC Action Plan as it provides a basis for common approach Recommendation 3 – Establish Permanent Regional Consultative Process to coordinate the efforts of countries of origin, transit and destination (annual or bi-annual meetings) Recommendation 4 – AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission to call on member states to develop own country Action Plans as a priority as a precursor to legislation Recommendation 5 - AU should develop a joint declaration with the Arab League to combat trafficking in persons similar to the AU/EU agreement

18. WAY FORWARD – The near future • Chaneling of regional cooperation through Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO): Africa Desk and SADC Desk • Development of sub-regional Prevention and Public Awareness Strategy for FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 • Regional coordination strategy should include a plan for Annual Conference • Participation in AU.Commit Campaign activities

19. THANK YOU

20. Ms Nolwandle Qaba Project Manager Programme Coordinating Unit SOCA Unit, NPA 27 12 845-6149, nrqaba@npa.gov.za