In 2014, the Global Slavery Index (GSI) found that worldwide there are nearly 36 million victims of human trafficking. This practice, which is especially prevalent in Asia, shows no signs of disappearing and a solution to the problem is far from clear.
South Africa
At the end of November, South African businessman Lloyd Mabuza was found guilty of imprisoning and raping five girls aged between 10 and 16. For his crime the punishment was 8 life sentences, handed down by Magistrate Andre Lambrecht. His accomplice, Violet Chauke, was found guilty of Human Trafficking for sexual purposes and handed to home affairs for deportation back to Mozambique. The shocking details of the case, where children were left to live in squalor, threatened, and repeatedly raped has shocked South Africa and has the potential to make a severe impact worldwide.
Trafficking in Africa
The GSI report found that the African continent is awash with countries that are home to human trafficking and modern slavery. Of the countries on the continent, South Africa was considered to be one of those where the practice is less common. Because of its ties with Europe, and relative wealth in sub-Saharan Africa, the news that there is human trafficking going on in South Africa will impact the international community, and maybe even elicit a response.
Global law
In Western Europe and the USA the laws on Human Trafficking are strict and carry severe penalties. Nonetheless, the practice still goes on, with trafficking of girls for sexual exploitation an issue that is in and out of the press regularly. This begs the question, are we doing enough to fight this criminal practice?
Bringing down the traffickers
Admittedly, because the occurrence of human trafficking is not as common in the UK, we may find it easy to overlook what is happening elsewhere. Is this attitude cowardly, or should we watch our country first? As a country carrying such immense influence, is it our duty to work with poorer countries to fight the traffickers and criminals who still enslave others?
The next steps
The arguments for ignoring the problem are weak, with the only clear reason being the financial implications of undertaking such a mammoth task. What are the options? More support for victims and potential victims? Clamping down on perpetrators? Relieving the pressure on smaller governments by introducing international tribunals for repeat offenders? The global community is suffering at the hands of those who exploit the weak and underprivileged, and there must be something we can do to fight it.
Publication Integrity & Ethics 12th December 2014
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