World Day Against Trafficking: 'More can be done to fight this problem' - Criminologist

JOHANNESBURG - Criminologist and national coordinator for Missing Children South Africa Bianca van Aswegen says more can be done in the fight against human trafficking.

Tuesday marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and 2024’s theme is “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”. 

Children account for a third of all trafficking victims.

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While the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act provides a comprehensive legal framework for addressing human trafficking in South Africa, van Aswegen said part of the problem is that incidents are underreported.

“I think people aren’t reporting trafficking in persons as much as it should be. People aren’t realising it’s happening in our country. Also, the defining of trafficking in persons in court when it comes to prosecutions, there’s a very fine line where there’s a difference between kidnapping and trafficking in persons. I think that line also makes it very difficult for us to prosecute these types of syndicates or perpetrators. So, there’s always more that can be done to fight this problem.”