Child Trafficking – protect your child

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This is according to Megan Briede of LifeLine Ekurhuleni.

“Trafficking occurs when someone is taken from the place where they live to another place to be exploited or taken advantage of,” says Briede.

“People who are trafficked have often been misinformed or tricked into leaving and in most cases trafficked children and young people are either moved within the country (from a rural area to a large city or a tourist destination) or taken to a foreign country.

“Human trafficking is the third biggest industry on a global scale, after illegal arms and drugs. Children can be trafficked for many reasons.

“They may be made to perform illegal or dangerous work, to beg or to be involved in drug smuggling.

“Younger children and babies may be trafficked so that they can be illegally adopted. Another reason why children are commonly trafficked is for sexual exploitation or abuse.

“They may be forced to have sex with people for money or for some other benefit, such as food or presents.

“They may also be forced into producing child pornography. Even when children have been trafficked for other reasons, such as to work, they may end up being sexually exploited because they have little protection and nobody to turn to for help.

“Children who are trafficked will suffer physical and sometimes sexual abuse, often of an extreme kind.

“This can leave them with health problems which can result in disability, disease and even death. Girls may become pregnant, sometimes at a very young age.

“Mental health and emotional problems are also common. Children may find it difficult to trust others or have nightmares and live in fear.

Sometimes children and young people may use drugs and alcohol as a way of coping.” What can be done to combat child trafficking

There are several things that you can do to combat trafficking. These include:

· Spreading the work about trafficking – talk to friends and family about what you have heard and raise awareness about the problem of trafficking. Warn you friends about the dangers.

· Join in – join an organisation that is fighting against trafficking and participate in awareness raising campaigns and activities to raise much needed funds.

· Speak out – if you believe that someone is a victim of trafficking, please speak out.

If you are a victim of trafficking, please seek help – there are a lot of people and organisations that can help you. Asking for help is the first step you must take to stop a bad situation from getting worse.

Some safety measures to ensure the safety of your children:

· Remember the rule of safety in numbers.

· Children shouldn’t go to the shops or on other errands alone.

· Children should walk to school in a group rather than alone, particularly when walking long distances.

· If you are collecting a child from school make sure you are on time.

· When a child wants to go out with friends or stay over at their homes give your approval first to the family.

· Make time to discuss the outing or visit afterwards with the child.

· Make sure that places of entertainment are child-friendly before allowing your child to go there unaccompanied by you, or with an adult well known to you.

· Be aware if a child comes home with gifts or money that cannot be accounted for. If the child says it is a gift from a friend, ask for their name to thank them.

· If a child tries to explain the strange activities or behaviour of others, which he or she can’t fully understand, take them seriously and get professional help from your local Child Welfare Society or the local police.

· Child abuse has no boundaries and perpetrators do not discriminate in terms of age, gender, social backgrounds or the family circumstances of their victims. Child abusers are everywhere.

Phone LifeLine Ekurhuleni on 011 422 4242 or 0861 322 322 to speak to a counsellor.