Limpopo Launch and Plan of ActivitiesAppropriate organizations and/or departments Department of Safety and Security Department of Health and Social Services Department of Home Affairs SABC POLOKWANE TERRE DES HOMMES (TDH) Johannesburg Vhembe District Municipality Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Introduction For some years now, trafficking in persons has been an issue of concern to the international community. Child Trafficking, in particular, is recognised as a serious human rights issue requiring immediate national, regional and global collaboration and action. But the challenge - as we will - is complex and, to be effective, actions will need to be supported by in depth research to create better understanding ofthe factors that drive this practice. In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly defined child trafficking as the illicit and clandestine movement of persons across national and international borders, largely from developing countries and some countries in transition with the end goal of forcing women girls and children into sexual or economically oppresive and exploitative situations for the profit of recruiters, traffickers, crime sindicates, as well as other illegal activities related to trafficking, such as forced domestic labour. However in recent years, it has been the effort of international development and civil society organizations that have focused attention on this modern form of slavery - where children are bought and sold within and across national borders by organized networks. Trafficking of children for economic purposes is closely and inextricable linked to some of the worst forms of child labour. In the underworld of human trade, children are exchanged for prostitution, for begging and soliciting, and for work on construction sites, in small shops, in factories and in domestic service. Hidden from sight and beyond the reach of the law, these children are abused, exposed to hazardous working conditions, confined in the workplace, denied education, denied basic health care, denied adequate nutrition, leisure time and the safety and security of theirs families. Trated like slaves these children often end up working as domestic servants and labourers on plantations, in mines, in the urban informal sector and increasingly in the market of prostitutions, and pornography where countless numbers lose innocence and are exposed to HIV and other health risks.
Many pay the ultimate price and lose their lives. All lose their basic human rights Combating Child trafficking: 4 elements to form part of our themes From a regional perspective it seems clear that a multi-faceted strategy approach will be necessary if we are to make inroads in combating the multi-dimensional causes of child trafficking. These strategies should include: 1. Raising Public Awareness 2. Promotion of Education as a Preventive Strategy, 3. Strengthening Partnerships and Cooperation, and 4. Establishing a Legal and Penal Support System 1. MPULIMO background The MPULIMO TASK TEAM AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, The first task was to conduct a conference to bring together individuals and organizations that are or want to be involved with working against child trafficking. Although this is an ongoing process that must be continued, we have reached our initial goals and must now make modifications for future capacity building and cross border cooperation. To achieve this and the other objectives, a Child Trafficking Coordinator was hired to organize and facilitate the project. The Coordinator began working in March and the networking forum is managed by Amazing Grace Children’ Centre. The first activity was the Launch of the first Anti-Child Trafficking Conference, which was hosted at Hectorspruit, and was funded by TDH German from their regional office in Mozambique. The conference delegates included people representing organizations from Mozambique and two South African Provinces, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Rede Came, FECIV, Continuadores, Masungulo, and the project patrons TDH-Mozambique represented Mozambican NGOs. Limpopo NGOs were represented by, Elim Care Group and the Mpumalanga organizations included government officials from Safety and Security (SAPS), Department of Home Affairs and NGO representatives from The Amazing Grace Children’s Centre, Thembalethu Home Based Care, Nkomazi Advise Office and media representatives from Nkomazi Voice. It was in this conference where Mpulimo was founded and plans to official launch the project were set for Lebombo Border Gate with Mozambique on December 2004. In May 2005,The Anti-Child Trafficking Officer was part of a delegation which was pioneer by the Mpumalanga Safety and Security Department with the MEC’s office Dina Pule, to do a day long investigation regarding the problem of illegal border posts, which are also used as human smuggling post for traffickers. This was done in partnership with the SANDF (South African National Defense Force), SAPS officials and Home Affairs department. On the 12th of December 2004 we launched the Anti Child Trafficking Campaign in between the two borders, guests from Mozambique and South Africa were invited and Government officials of the two countries managed to be present at the launch of the MPULIMO. The launch was very productive to the people of South Africa and Mozambique taking into consideration the participation of the organizations from both countries which included Johannesburg, Sithabile Youth and Child Care and TDH-South Africa; Pretoria, IOM (International Organization for Migration; Mpumalanga, Provincial Department of Health and Social Services HOD Mr. Hassain Verrachia as well as Mozambican Government representatives. On the 29th of January 2005 we had a soccer tournament against Child Trafficking, this tournament involved four primary schools in the villages near the border to make the educational awareness of Child Trafficking and we were able to work with all the Home Based Cares, SAPS’ Child Protection Unit, on the other hands we were able to repatriate three kids back to Mozambique. The forum is now preparing to strengthen its relationship with organizations from Limpopo province and after a meeting which was hosted on 17 October 2006, the forum decided to launch the Anti-Child Trafficking programme which will be coordinated by MPULIMO member organization in the province who will be our reference point. The aim is, to create awareness about the specific problem of trafficking, picket on the streets to submit a memorandum to the nearest police station. The home has advocacy programmes that focuses on prevention measures and public accountability and/or awareness and furthermore, we follow trails of the trafficking chain and work with police to establish an investigation, make arrests and refer to prosecutors. The victims of Trafficking which the home has assisted in the past were referred to the home by Social Workers, Non-Governmental Organization or Civil Society organization, The South African Police Services (SAPS) and members of the public via one of the above mentioned institution, since its inception, the Anti-Child Trafficking we have gathered valuable information from both victims of trafficking and from our own investigation to uncover the illegal trends of trafficking and on average we have assisted more than 20 children on a monthly basis who are from both Mozambique and Swaziland. The project has received financial support over the years from Terre Des Homme German and Oak Foundation to run its programmes, which are: B Networking: MPULIMO (Mpumalanga, Limpopo & Mozambique) TASK TEAM AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING B Place of Safety for victims of trafficking B Training and Workshops on Child care and Children’s rights B Repatriation and Study permits B Victim Empowerment Centre B Public awareness and Multi-media awareness B Anti-Child Labour, Anti-Child pornography & Anti-Commercial Sexual Exploitation programmes B Law Reform Consultative, Public participation Forums and conferences 2. Programme for the launch on the 9th of Dec ‘06 Date: 9 December 2006 Time: 10:00 am Venue: MAKHADO, VHEMBE DISTRICT, LIMPOPO 1. Briefing session with Marshall 2. Procession to the police station 3. Submission of memorandum 4. Launch deliberation at Lappa: media or press conference PROGRAMME AT THE LAPPA ON THE 9 DEC ‘06 B Opening welcome: Municipal mayor B Introduction of guest: MC B Entertainment: Children B Background of MPULIMO: Daniel Sikhonza B Purpose of the event: Grace Mashaba B Speakers from Mozambique: Lea Boaventura B Entertainment: Children B Introduction: Guest speakers B Guest speaker’s note: Limpopo government or FDC B Entertainment: Children-Limpopo B Handing of gifts to guests B Announcement B Closure B Lunch or refreshment B Who to contact: for reservations contact Vusi B Financial aspect: BUDGET ATTACHED B Number of people to work with: ONLY 16 WILL BE ACCOMODATED B Area or location: the meeting and accommodation should be around Makhado, thus we would like to submit the memorandum at the nearest police station and thereafter host our event at the Lappa for our guests. We don’t how far is the border from Makhado and what further costs are we likely to incur. Agenda FOR THE 8TH DECEMBER 2006 Time: 13:30 - Opening and welcome
- Apologies and remarks
- Reading of previous minutes
- Matters arising from the minutes
- Business of the day/Matters to be discussed
5.1 MPULIMO position 5.2 Interim Constitution 5.3 Short and medium term strategy 5.4 Communication and coordination 5.5 Memo of understanding 5.6 Training and workshop 5.7 Election and additional members 5.8 Common MPULIMO activities (year plan) - Any other business
6.1 …………………………. 6.2 ………………………….. 6.3 …………………………… - Announcement or general
- Closure
Notes: All the NGOs that will be coming from Mpumalanga will use one means of transport, this will also apply to Mozambican NGOs and maximum budget for transport for them will not exceed R1500-00. This applies to all the NGOs. The overall figure for transport includes Amazing Grace staff. For the Limpopo partners transport reimbursement will apply to those who have traveled more than 100km. Accommodation is limited to 16 people and as now this budget does not include the activities for Zimbabwean border but, for the launch in Makhado and its surrounding communities which will include a march and the submission of a memorandum to the nearest police station and a formal programme at a local activity hall. But a visit to the border can be a possibility.
|
All Articles