Students from Stellenbosch University collaborated with the local branch of an international anti-human trafficking organisation to raise awareness around human trafficking in the Stellenbosch area.
According to Ashleigh Bicker Caarten, a volunteer at A21 South Africa, the organisation partnered with United Nations Association of South Africa (Unasa) and the Economic and Management Science faculty’s academic committee (EBSK) during the week of 25 May, by sharing information such as statistics, signs and types of human trafficking on social media.
Infographics with signs of human trafficking were posted on the social media platforms of Unasa, A21 and EBSK, with the aim to educate the public and spread awareness on human trafficking. INFOGRAPHIC: Supplied/ A21 South Africa
This initiative was sparked by A21’s need to find alternative ways to engage with the public, due to lockdown regulations no longer enabling them to host events in person, Bicker Caarten said.
“The aim of the collaboration is to equip students in preventing human trafficking. As students entering the job market we are particularly vulnerable,” said Kira Alberts, chairperson of Unasa and third-year BA International Studies student at Stellenbosch University (SU).
Due to the high rate in human trafficking amongst the youth, and because of the large percentage of human trafficking presented as falsely advertised job opportunities, A21 regarded Unasa and EBSK’s platforms best suited for their reach into the Stellenbosch community, said Alberts.
South Africans are vulnerable to human trafficking
“We hope to educate Stellenbosch students, faculty and community members to the reality of human trafficking and the role they can play in fighting it,” Bicker Caarten said.
Unemployment, a lack of education and a lack of opportunity render people vulnerable to human trafficking, she said. According to this definition, it meant that 54% of South Africans were potentially vulnerable to human trafficking, she added.
This statistic is supported by the Global Slavery Index’s data on South Africa. In 2018, this index indicated that 53,76% of South Africans were potentially vulnerable to modern slavery.
INFOGRAPHIC: Lezanne Steenkamp
A21 also emphasised the sensitivity of the collaboration’s timeframe. The National Human Trafficking Hotline, which is operated by A21, noticed an increase of 140% in calls during lockdown, said Bicker Caarten. This increase was believed to be the result of higher levels of vulnerability of a large number of the population, as well as the amount of time people are spending online.
Rene Hanekom, A21 Hotline manager, confirmed the 140% increase. In March 2020, they received 357 reports in total, of which 293 calls were related to human trafficking. This was compared with 193 reports in March 2019, when 124 calls were related to human trafficking. In April 2020, the hotline received a total of 199 reports, with 115 calls related to human trafficking, slightly up from April 2019, when they received 172 reports in total, with 113 calls related to human trafficking.
Unasa and EBSK are helping to create awareness in various communities in and around Stellenbosch, said Michael Nothnagel, head of social impact and sponsorships in the EBSK.
“EBSK, along with Unasa, are hoping to spread awareness to vulnerable communities such as underprivileged schools, night-shelters and other community engagement projects in the Stellenbosch area,” said Nothnagel.
According to Alberts, Unasa is hopeful that the collaboration will enhance the possibility of an ‘A-Team’ – an initiative of A21, where a team of volunteers is assembled for the duration of a year, to work specifically on campus alongside A21 South Africa. This team will consistently work towards preventing human trafficking in Stellenbosch.
“In this season where people are a lot more vulnerable, awareness is crucial. We are anticipating a knock-on effect in the statistics, as traffickers are taking advantage of this increase in vulnerability,” Bicker Caarten said.
A video from A21’s Sexual Exploitation series, directed by Brandon Carter, that is used to raise awareness on human trafficking. VIDEO: Supplied/ A21 South Africa