D.Litt et Phil. (Social Work) / Children’s rights are fundamental to their growth and development, and child trafficking hampers the achievement of these rights. The growth of child trafficking continues to influence the responsibilities expected of social workers. Thus, it is essential that social workers are able to respond to the needs of trafficked children. Unfortunately, South Africa lacks literature on how cross-border trafficked children experience, perceive and understand identification and initial assistance processes. There is a gap in South African theoretical literature on child trafficking intervention guidelines. The result is that social work knowledge on victim assistance has not kept pace with the growing social issue in South Africa. The aim of this study is to develop psychosocial intervention guidelines for trafficked children in South Africa. The ever-growing burden of child trafficking demands that effective and efficient interventions are designed and implemented. Therefore, to fulfil the goal of the study, the overarching intervention research model used was the Rothman and Thomas (1994) Design and Development (D&D) model, which was complemented by Thomas’s (1984) Developmental model. The two models were chosen because they are directed by the practical realities in the social work field. The D&D model has six well-defined phases, although in this study, only the first four phases were applied. In the first phase, the rapid identification of child trafficking and the provision of initial assistance to child victims of trafficking were acknowledged as key issues that require social work intervention. The state of existing interventions was investigated during the state-of-art review, and a feasibility study was conducted to establish the resources required for the study. The outcome of the activities indicated that psychosocial intervention guidelines for child victims of transnational trafficking were needed. During the data-gathering phase, the researcher conducted a document study to establish what had been done to address the issues identified. An empirical study was also conducted using narrative interviews with ten trafficked children, seven social workers, and 15 key stakeholders. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and was subjected to literature control. The data further influenced the researcher’s decision to continue with the design phase. The design objectives, domains, and requirements were outlined in the design phase. This was closely followed by the conversion and intervention design processes, which included the formulation of generalisations and the development of the practice guidelines. Within the development of the guideline, additional skills were identified and recommended, and strategies were presented to support the implementation process. During the early development and pilot testing phase, it was evident that the process of development is intertwined with the realities of users, and thus designing continued into this phase. Pilot testing of the guidelines was conducted with social workers as the intended users to determine if these guidelines were viable and could be used as a practice tool. The social workers were satisfied with the guidelines. The design work, based on the social worker’s suggestions and the introduction of the Trafficking Act (2013), ensured that the goal of the study was achieved. The guidelines were developmentally valid, reasonably coherent, and reflective of the social work practice and policy implementation in South Africa. Rapid identification, timeous and appropriate referral and the immediate provision of assistance are fundamental aspects of addressing trafficked children’s needs and contribute towards the child’s recovery and healing process. In as much as it might be a challenge to provide all trafficked children with the opportunities, services and assistance required, providing high-quality social work assistance is a critical issue worth pursuing.

Despite the growing prevalence and awareness of child sex trafficking within the South African context, knowledge of the trade remains rudimentary. In this study, an exploration of how girl survivors of child sex trafficking within South Africa construct their experiences is provided. Participants included five girl children between the ages of 11 and 17, all of whom had been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, and managed to escape the trade. All of them were living in a safe house in Pretoria at the time of the interviews. One participant was trafficked into South Africa from Zimbabwe, one from the DRC, one from Lesotho, and two participants were trafficked within South African borders. An ecosystemic framework was suggested to create meaning of the findings, placing emphasis on how participants construct their experiences in terms of the ecological context. Research results reveal a significant difference in the ability of participants to overcome their experiences based on whether they had at least one supportive person from their ecological context before being trafficked. The findings of this study call for interventions to extend beyond the legislative arena. Rather, the legislative arena is seen as one aspect of the entire ecological context of girl children who are vulnerable to human trafficking. This sounds a call for interventions against human trafficking to take a more holistic view and to punctuate at the level of the family system and of the community. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Child trafficking is a global problem which affects every country. It is a serious crime that many governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community based organizations (CBOs) around the world are trying to address. Child trafficking involves multiple forms of exploitation, therefore it has been described as a form of modern slavery. South Africa, like most countries, is a place of origin, transit and destination. Children are increasingly being trafficked for purposes of sexual and labour exploitation. However, child trafficking has traumatic and devastating effects on the victims, affected families, communities as well as countries as a whole. The effects suffered by victims range from psychological, physical, emotional, social and economical in nature. The particular psychological, physical, emotional and social harm suffered by the trafficked children and their increased vulnerability to exploitation require that the governments and NGOs deal with them separately from adult trafficked victims in terms of laws, policies, programs and interventions. The best interest of the child must be the primary consideration in all actions concerning trafficked children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies. Research has confirmed that the population of children vulnerable to trafficking is growing worldwide with potentially disastrous effects. The number of orphans in many developing countries, including South Africa, is also rising dramatically due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The rapid rise of child-headed households is also creating fertile ground for traffickers. Literature also indicated that children have fewer control decisions about their lives, and that the national systems of child justice and child welfare often have inadequate means of protecting them against trafficking and, as a result, children remain vulnerable to the possible exposure of child trafficking. A great deal of internal trafficking of children occurs within South Africa for reasons of labour and sexual exploitation. It is confirmed in existent literature that South Africa is a major destination for regional and extra-regional trafficking activities. In this study, the researcher explored through a qualitative, applied study the role of the social worker in the prevention of child trafficking. The empirical study confirms that the information gathered from this study will benefit not only vulnerable children, families and victims of child trafficking, but also empower the social workers and other role players to render a more effective service to children vulnerable to possible child trafficking. Through an empirical study, it was concluded that the government in collaboration with NGOs, need to empower social workers in order for them to successfully execute their role in preventing child trafficking in South Africa. Prevention of child trafficking requires a short- and long-term strategy which should target tracking down the perpetrators and providing protection for vulnerable children who end up being victims of trafficking. Prevention of child trafficking focuses on three levels, namely primary, secondary and tertiary strategies. AFRIKAANS : Kinderhandel is ʼn globale probleem wat alle lande raak. Dit is ʼn ernstige probleem wat deur baie regerings sowel as nie-regeringsorganisasies aangespreek word. Kinderhandel is ʼn vorm van hedendaagse slawerny en sluit baie vorme van blootstelling in. Kinders word in toenemende mate verkoop vir kinderarbeid, asook vir seksuele blootstelling. Kinderhandel het traumatiese en vernietigende gevolge vir die slagoffers, hulle families, die gemeenskap asook die betrokke lande. Die letsels wat gelaat word wissel van sielkundig, fisies, emosioneel, sosiaal tot ekonomies van aard. Die spesifieke sielkundige, fisiese, emosionele en sosiale skade wat deur slagoffers van kinderhandel gely word, asook hulle toenemende weerloosheid vir blootstelling vereis dat regerings en nie-regeringsorganisasies ʼn ander aanslag moet gebruik as in die geval van volwasse slagoffers in terme van beleid, programme, die wet en terapeutiese intervensies. Kinders se behoeftes moet sentraal gestel word in alle aksies rakende kinderhandel – deur regerings-of deur nie-regeringsorganisasies, die hof, administratiewe of wetgewende liggame. Navorsing het bevestig dat die aantal kinders wat kwesbaar is tot kinderhandel wêreldwys kommerwekkend toeneem, met potensieel vernietigende gevolge. Die aantal weeskinders in ontwikkelende lande, insluitend Suid-Afrika, styg kommerwekkend as gevolg van die MIV-pandemie. Die voorkoms van huishoudings wat deur kinders gelei word, is vrugbare grond vir kinderhandelaars. In die literatuur word dit ook duidelik getoon dat kinders minder beheer het om oor hulle eie lewens te besluit, en dat nasionale sisteme van kinderreg en kinderwelsyn nie genoegsame kapasiteit het om kinders teen kinderhandel te beskerm nie. Die gevolg is dat kinders steeds blootgestel word aan kinderhandel. Kinderhandel binne die grense van Suid-Afrika sluit kinderarbeid en seksuele blootstelling in. Dit word bevestig in die bestudeerde literatuur dat Suid-Afrika ʼn eindbestemming vir streeks- en wyer mensehandelpraktyke is. In hierdie studie poog die navorser om deur middel van ʼn kwalitatiewe studie, die rol van die maatskaplike werker in die voorkoming van kinderhandel te ontdek. Die empiriese studie bevestig dat die inligting wat van hierdie studie verkry is, nie net weerlose kinders, families en slagoffers kan bevoordeel nie, maar dat dit ook maatskaplike werkers en ander rolspelers kan bemagtig om meer effektiewe diens aan kinders wat blootgestel is aan kinderhandel diens te lewer. Deur middel van die empiriese studie, is daar gevind dat regerings- sowel as nie-regeringsorganisasies in samewerking met mekaar maatskaplike werkers behoort te bemagtig, om hulle rol in die voorkoming van kinderhandel in Suid-Afrika meer suksesvol te kan vervul. Voorkoming van kinderhandel vereis ʼn kort- sowel as langtermynstrategieë wat daarop gemik moet wees om kinderhandelaars te identifiseer, en beskerming te bied aan weerlose kinders wat moontlike slagoffers van kinderhandel kan word. Voorkoming van kinderhandel fokus op drie vlakke, naamlik: primêre, sekondêre en tersiêre strategieë. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The question regarding what makes child trafficking persistent in conflict and post-war settings has been subject to intense debate. The human trafficking literature makes general conclusions that trafficking is a by-product of civil wars, and in the process child traffickers exploit the breakdown of the rule of law. As such it is perceived that the governance of the problem of child trafficking can be effective whenever peace and stability is realised and when legal frameworks for protecting children are in place. Prompted by these assertions, I conducted a field study in South Sudan, a country emerging from one of Africa’s longest running and most brutal civil wars fought between the government in Khartoum and Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). The Sudan’s civil wars ended after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. Whilst the termination of the war raised expectations that the international anti-trafficking conventions, treaties and customary laws protecting children would have enforcement powers and would guarantee the rights and safety of the child, the peace failed to deliver on these expectations. Based on empirical data obtained through an intensive micro-level qualitative research conducted in South Sudan over three months, the research findings reveal that a number of challenges pose serious difficulties in enforcing international counter-trafficking legislations and child protection instruments. These challenges are compounded by the interplay of the emerging socio-economic and political development in the post-independent South Sudan.

No description available.

‘Child trafficking’ as a phenomenon requiring a policy and practice response has, in recent years gathered considerable pace. ‘Child trafficking’ is a crosscutting social issue, relevant to policy areas of child protection, child migration, criminal justice, immigration, social policy and human rights. This thesis explores children’s own accounts and lived experiences of ‘child trafficking’, addressing a notable gap in hearing from children directly. The thesis critically engages with the social construction of the ‘trafficked child’ examining how contemporary concepts of childhood shape and inform ‘child trafficking’ policy and practice. How ‘child trafficking’ policy has been constructed politically is examined, in shaping how ‘child trafficking’ is defined in practice. The implications for children experiencing trafficking of a system built on current assumptions about childhood and ‘child trafficking’ are considered. The study explores how children’s experiences of their childhood and ‘child trafficking’ challenge many assumptions underpinning policy and practice. The findings reveal a disjuncture between immigration-driven and prosecution focused ‘child trafficking’ practice and children requiring a welfare and individualised response to their needs. Children needed practitioners to listen to them, believe them and take action upon child protection concerns. A conclusion is drawn that the way in which ‘child trafficking’ policy and practice in England is presently constructed, and experienced, appears not to reflect the lived ‘realties’ of young people in this study. A new approach to ‘child trafficking’ policy and practice is recommended underpinned by a conceptual shift in how we perceive childhood and adolescence. Intended audiences of this study include policy-makers and front-line practitioners including social workers, the police, immigration officers and other services. This qualitative study contributes in developing methods with a hard to access population addressing a difficult subject area, promoting children and young people’s participation in research.

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) is a severe form of child sexual exploitation. Thus far, DMST studies have been qualitative or relied on secondary data. There has been no quantitative attempt to directly identify victims in a methodical way in order to determine the prevalence of DMST at a local level or the nature and strengths of its correlates. The present study used a three-tiered screening process to identify victims of DMST in a juvenile detention center. All youth taken into custody over a three and a half month period (N = 738) received a short assessment to identify those most at risk and in need of additional screening. During the study, six youth were identified as DMST victims and statistically significant differences were found between youth referred for additional screening (N = 47) and youth who were not. The results suggest that detention and probation staff identified the presence of DMST risk factors in youth screen interviews and were making referral decisions based on the presence of those risk factors. Practical implications of the findings are discussed along with suggestions for future research.

The concept of organ transplantation is not a new concept in South Africa and many organ transplants are performed annually. However, the problem that arises is that there is currently a shortage of donor organs suitable for transplant and this leads to the demand for organs exceeding the supply thereof. This in itself opens the door for unethical and criminal ways of obtaining organs. One of the ways in which these organs are obtained is child trafficking for the sole purpose of removal of organs. Although there are several reasons why children are abducted and used in child trafficking practices, the removal of their organs is discussed as the main reason in this study. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United National Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000) (hereinafter the Protocol), which South Africa signed and ratified, is the international instrument which places an obligation on South Africa to address the issue relating to human trafficking by implementing legislation. Until recently there had been no legislation specifically regulating human trafficking. Through the years, several bills for implementation in the national legislative framework were proposed to parliment. In 2013, the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act was incorporated into national legislation to address South Africa's international and regional obligations. In this study, the international, regional and national framework concerning trafficking is outlined and discussed as well as the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act to determine to what extent they do provide protection to victims of human trafficking. / LLM (Comparative Child Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The concept of organ transplantation is not a new concept in South Africa and many organ transplants are performed annually. However, the problem that arises is that there is currently a shortage of donor organs suitable for transplant and this leads to the demand for organs exceeding the supply thereof. This in itself opens the door for unethical and criminal ways of obtaining organs. One of the ways in which these organs are obtained is child trafficking for the sole purpose of removal of organs. Although there are several reasons why children are abducted and used in child trafficking practices, the removal of their organs is discussed as the main reason in this study. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United National Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000) (hereinafter the Protocol), which South Africa signed and ratified, is the international instrument which places an obligation on South Africa to address the issue relating to human trafficking by implementing legislation. Until recently there had been no legislation specifically regulating human trafficking. Through the years, several bills for implementation in the national legislative framework were proposed to parliment. In 2013, the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act was incorporated into national legislation to address South Africa's international and regional obligations. In this study, the international, regional and national framework concerning trafficking is outlined and discussed as well as the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act to determine to what extent they do provide protection to victims of human trafficking. / LLM (Comparative Child Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Examines the situation of child victims through a human rights perspective and identifies the existing legal framework in the international and regional environment. Furthermore, this study seeks to raise awareness about the illegality and harmful consequences of all forms of child trafficking. Also discusses the necessity to take appropriate criminal as well as administrative action, at all levels, to effectively prohibit and penalise child trafficking. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Professor Julia Sloth-Nielsen of the faculty of Law, of the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM