Press Statement 28/03/07
For immediate use
The organized recruitment, transported and eventual exploitation of children is a growing and serious problem in southern African region. Children are trafficked for purposes of labour exploitation and sexual exploitation; as well as for their organs, illegal adoptions and illicit criminal activities.
Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery – it is a money making operation through the use, abuse and exploitation of the child for gain and reward by others. Children experience severe human rights abuses in the process of being trafficked and during their eventual exploitation.
Delegates at this SANTAC conference expressed deep concern for the lack of response from governments in the southern Africa region to trafficking in persons; especially children. The conference noted the need for a collective, coordinated response involving governments, civil society, inter-governmental agencies; including religious groups; strategic intervention.
The conference has drafted a call for a declaration to SADC in light of the coming high-level governmental SADC / EU Conference scheduled for later this year. The declaration calls on SADC government leaders to make serious political commitment and action to protect children.
Our declaration also expresses the need to a regional strategic plan of action for compliance of national and international commitments by SADC states concerning the CRC, the African Charter and the Palermo Protocol.
There is no legal framework to deal effectively with TIC. The implementation of existing law and reform of the law for a comprehensive legal framework is urgent.
Furthermore our declaration asks that SADC develop a protocol for the identification, support, assistance and protection of victims of trafficking.
The conference further noted the need to establish a social movement for the protection of children as recommended by Madam Graca Machel, the patron of SANTAC.
SANTAC together with its partners will strengthen efforts to lobby governments and mobilize civil society to combat trafficking in children.
This conference has provided key role-players in civil society and inter-governmental agencies in the region to make new commitments to strengthen partnerships and identify priorities to protect children from abuse and exploitation; i.e.
- Awareness and education
- Training of service providers
- Victim support and assistance – protection of victims
- Compliance of international commitment
- Implementation of the law and reform of the law
- Investigations, charging and prosecution of offenders
- Prevention
SANTAC Conference Chairperson