Led by the Interdepartmental Management Team (IDMT), the National Prosecuting Authority (ILO), The Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as national radio station Metro FM and the Kaiser Chiefs soccer team, the event will rally governmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector around this year’s theme: “Human Trafficking is real: Tsireledzani!” (Tsireledzani! Is Tshivenda for ‘let’s protect each other’).

The HTAW is part of a European Commission-funded national counter-trafficking programme, Tsireledzani!, which aims to reduce the vulnerability to trafficking, rescue victims and provide them with adequate protection, support and reintegration assistance. The programme also aims to track and disrupt trafficking networks and to convict those who organize and benefit from the trade.

Highlights of the week will include the airing of talk shows and Public Service Announcements on national television and radio networks, print and online media as well as the distribution of information materials in schools, shopping malls, and other high visibility areas.

Players of Kaizer Chiefs soccer team will also address their supporters and wear t-shirts encouraging the public to report suspected cases or find out more information about human trafficking through IOM’s toll-free counter-trafficking helpline number: 0800 555 999 and the SAPS helpline: 0800 10111. IOM will hold a national technical workshop on human trafficking and launch an educational animated web story for children.

The Department of Home Affairs will hold an internal educational campaign for its staff members, who are crucial to the fight against human trafficking, and distribute information materials at border posts nationwide.

The Human Trafficking Awareness Week is one of South Africa’s key interventions against human trafficking. It was initiated in 2006 by IOM’s Southern African Counter Trafficking Assistance Programme (SACTAP) in partnership with South African marketing company Diasporafric, and with the support of Metro FM and Kaizer Chiefs soccer team.

For more information, please contact: Nde Ndifonka, nndifonka@iom.int

, +27 12 342 2789