GLO.ACT South Africa hosts a first of its kind information sharing workshop for all role players involved in the response to trafficking in Persons.

Sheraton Hotel Pretoria, South Africa - 19-20 June 2017 -Following the successful launch in South Africa of the joint EU-UNODC initiative, the "GLO.ACT -Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants" on the 22 September 2016 in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in South Africa, an information sharing workshop on the Trafficking in Persons Act was convened from 19-20 June 2017. This workshop was facilitated by the GLO.ACT in order establish a road map for the implementation of training requirements as set out in section 44(10) of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act.

  The GLO.ACT Stakeholders at a recent meeting in Pretoria

The Global Action to prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants aims to assist beneficiary in developing and implementing comprehensive national counter-trafficking and counter smuggling responses, through six pillars, with pillar number three being capacity building. In South Africa, training is one of the key interventions of the Draft National Policy Framework on the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act. The draft National Policy Framework which is for the implementation, Administration and Monitoring of the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act articulates that each government department as per section 44(10) of the TIP ACT will develop training courses to ensure that all police officials, prosecutors and other functionaries are able to deal with matters relating to trafficking in persons in an appropriate, efficient and sensitive manner.  

 

During the opening ceremony of the workshop, Mr. Manuel Iglesias, First Counsellor, Head of Section for Governance, Social Sectors and Culture at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of South Africa said that: "The European Union Delegation to South Africa congratulates the Government of South Africa on the significant effort in the promulgation of the "Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (PACOTIP)", which criminalizes all forms of human trafficking and mandates a coordinated government programme to prevent and combat trafficking. We are proud to be supporting the further operationalisation of this progressive legislation through the UNODC GloAct programme".

 

Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. John Jeffery used his opening remarks to mention that: "Human beings are not for sale, yet, human trafficking happens the world over, affecting every country of the world - either as countries of origin, transit or destination or combination of them all". He further said that: "Trafficking is often a cross-border crime. Therefore no country can fight trafficking alone. The assistance of international bodies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Organization for Migrants and the United Nations Children's Fund strengthens our hand in the fight against trafficking". In closing remarks the Deputy Minister Hon. John Jeffery said that: "We know human trafficking is happening. We didn't fight for freedom in our country to have people still enchained today. Looking away is not an option - we must act, and act decisively, to end trafficking in persons".

 

Meanwhile, Ms. Zhuldyz Akisheva, UNODC Regional Representative, reaffirmed UNODC's work in combatting trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, which is directly relevant to target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) on the eradication of forced labour and human trafficking. She went on to say that: "In terms of strengthening the response to trafficking in persons, GLO.ACT will support the revision of identification and referral guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for victims of trafficking. There is also an opportunity to support the establishment of an integrated information system to facilitate the effective monitoring and implementation of the Tracking in Persons Act".

 

 The objectives and key deliverables of the workshop were:

  • To establish a road map for the implementation of training requirements as set out in section 44 (10) the Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Persons Act and the National Policy Framework on TIP;
  • To explore how to strengthen and harmonise training programmes for criminal justice officials and other key stakeholders working to address trafficking in persons in South Africa;
  • To promote the institutionalization of training in all competent institutions, optimising existing resources and exploring the development of an integrated training programme for all stakeholders with a focus on Provincial Task Teams;
  • To develop a common understanding of the implementation, roles and responsibilities of all relevant role players in the TIP process;
  • To develop an implementation plan for capacity building for criminal justice officials who will support the multi-sectoral national task team in the fight against trafficking in persons; and
  • To explore strategies on effective TIP public awareness programmes.

Delegates at the recently eneded GLO.ACT meeting in Pretoria

Workshop participants included the South African Inter-Sectorial Committee for Trafficking in Persons (NICTIP), Provincial Task Teams (PTT) on Trafficking, Civil Society Organisations and representatives involved in the development and management of TIP training programmes. These included representatives from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the South African Police Services, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Social Development. Also taking part were our donor, the European Union, and project-implementing partner and IOM.