Embassy of the United States

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The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP), led by Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically.

U.S. State Department releases 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report: South Africa upgraded

June 11 

Pretoria -  The United States Department of State released the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on June 16.  South Africa’s ranking has been upgraded from Tier 2 Watchlist to Tier 2, indicating that this past year, the government made significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. 

The U.S. Congress, through its passage of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, as amended (TVPA), requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress.  The goal of this report is to stimulate action and create partnerships around the world in the fight against modern-day slavery.  The entire TIP Report, including the South Africa country report, is available on-line at http://www.state.gov/g/tip .

South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficked men, women, and children.  This past year, the government has taken steps with the NGO community to enhance legal protection and other supports for victims of trafficking.  The government opened prosecutions against 16 suspected trafficking offenders during the year.  It is continuing to prepare for late 2009 passage and subsequent implementation of its comprehensive anti-trafficking law by developing inter-agency operating procedures and training officials on the law, victim identification, and agency roles.  Foreign victims in South Africa, however, still face inadequate protection from the government.  Labor trafficking does not receive as much government attention as does sex trafficking. 

The report recommends several concrete steps be taken to combat trafficking in South Africa -- among them, that the South African government pass and enact the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill; implement the Children’s Amendment Act of 2007; and support prevention strategies developed by NGOs to address demand for commercial sex acts and protect children from commercial sexual exploitation in advance of the 2010 World Cup.

For more information, please contact Embassy press officers:
Sharon Hudson-Dean: 079-111-8276
Ombretta Tanziani: 079-111-8259