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Essay on The Devastating Effects of Human Trafficking in South Africa

Decent Essays

One of the leading problems in the world today is human trafficking. Annually, about 600,000-800,000 people are trafficked across international borders, mostly consisting of women and children. Although this is an issue worldwide, it is especially an important issue in South Africa. I have chosen this topic because many people are not aware of this issue. Trafficking also violates human rights—especially the rights of women and children. This issue relates to the topic of “Children in the World.” Although trafficking affects people of all ages, it has the greatest impact on children.

There are a numerous number of causes as to why trafficking has come to be such an issue in South African society. Poverty, poor education standards, …show more content…

For example, in 1996, police arrested a mentally ill man, accountable for the deaths of 17 women who were found strangled in the Western Cape Peninsula (AFP, 5 December 1997). Most victims of trafficking are exposed to very unsafe working conditions, and could result in them getting various diseases, like HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that is a very big issue in all of Africa. In South Africa, 21.5% of the population has HIV/AIDS. By being forced to work around unsafe people or conditions, the victims of trafficking are at an increased risk to get many deadly diseases. Another consequence of trafficking is that the victims (mostly children) are recruited as soldiers for ongoing conflict not just in South Africa but are trafficked to other countries as well. Because trafficking is a worldwide issue, trafficking that is going on in South Africa is affecting people from other countries as well. Children from other countries such as Thailand, Eastern Europe, and China are being brought to South Africa and sold into slavery by traffickers from these countries working with South Africans.
Human trafficking affects everyone it comes in contact with. There are women, men, and children that are stuck in this type of life with no way out. It is essential that the South African government takes a stand against trafficking along with other nations. South Africa continues to make

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