Alert Notice – Human Trafficking/Kidnapping Safety in Shopping Malls
This is an alert notice to the public, management and staff of shopping malls and centers to be vigilant of persons operating in the malls, following members of the public specifically women around
Two incidences in the last two days at different malls (Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and Mall of Africa) have been reported of unknown males following females in the malls and fortunately in both cases the females were alert and notified security. In the one case the female managed to take a video of the male following her and has gone viral on social media. The female in the second case is known to ACT Africa and alerted us immediately after the incident took place.
With the rise in Kidnappings, Abductions and Human Trafficking in SA this is very worrying and scary for all going to the shopping malls.
PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING SHOULD SOMEONE BE FOLLOWING YOU:
ALERT THE SECURITY IMMEDIATELY
UTILISE YOUR SAFETY APP AND OR SECURITY DEVICE IF YOU ARE A SUBSCRIBER OF ONE BY PRESSING THE PANIC ALERT BUTTON
IF NO SECURITY AROUND, ALERT SHOP STAFF PERSONEL OF YOUR SITUATION
SCREAM AS LOUD AS YOU CAN FOR HELP
TRY TO TAKE PICS AND OR VIDEO CLIP OF THE PERSON FOLLOWING YOU FOR EVIDENCE.
DO NOT GO TO THE PARKING LOT / YOUR VEHICLE.
DO NOT GO.TO THE TOILETS
GO INTO THE NEAREST SHOP AND ALERT SHOP STAFF
REFER TO THE EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN THE POSTER BELOW
We Appeal to All Shopping Malls / Centers to set up helpdesks with trained personnel to deal with issues of human trafficking, kidnapping and abduction and to contact ACT Africa at info@actafrica.org.za for assistance in the setting up and training in this regard
#safety #precaution
#stophumantrafficking
#stopkidnapping
#stopabductions
#stopgenderbasedviolence
“EVIL PREVAILS WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DO NOTHING *
Should you wish to donate to help us fight and break the cycles of these vicious atrocities of Human Trafficking and Gender based Violence especially during these perilous times and far into the future, You will be assisting and enabling us to fulfill our mission to Save Lives Through Awareness and Education.
ACT Africa is extremely saddened and perturbed by the Gun Violence plaguing Eldorado Park. Within 7 days this past week 22 to 27 August 2022, 10people have been shot and 3 have succumbed to the gun violence and some are still fighting for their lives in hospital.
A community trying their level best to rise from socio-economic problems – Poverty, Substance abuse, Gender-Based Violence & Femocide, Human Trafficking and all other forms of crime, are now being held hostage (through not having freedom of movement) by reckless Gun Wielding individuals who for whatever reason have found themselves in the clutches of perpetuating crime, shooting randomly into crowds of children and adults and robbing innocent children and adults of their lives and plunging families into states of hopelessness and deep despair…..
IS THE GUN VIOLENCE RANDOM???
Question– Why would a person/s perpetuate gun violence and shoot randomly ???
Answer– Something has gone wrong emotionally, mentally, physically, socio-economically and thus a life of crime is chosen by the individual, So No the Gun Violence is Not Random..
Question – What could have gone wrong??
Answer- Failed Parenthood – Parents have become lax in our parenting by becoming negligent AND abdicating our responsibilities our God Given roles of parenting as Father or Mother and thus the family structure has broken down leading to extreme Dysfunction. Peer Pressure -The need to belong, feel important . Impoverished environment and the skewed notion that crime will alleviate the impoverished situation. Drugs/Substance Abuse is a huge problem and thus Drug related violence is synonymous with this. Crime Kingpins exploit the vulnerabilities of this impoverished community in order to benefit financially in one form or the other and using it’s people as pawns to perpetuate these horrendous crimes.
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
All forms of crimes committed is a violation of human rights as there is always a victim who has been robbed of their human rights no matter the crime.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 6
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 10
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Article 11
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14
Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 15
Everyone has the right to a nationality.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Article 16
Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 23
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Article 24
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 26
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Article 27
Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29
Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
There is no quick fix solution but firstly taking RESPONSIBILIY AND BEING ACCOUNTABLE for importantly yourself and the choices you make which has a ripple effect on your family ie spouse, your children, your parents, broader family your neighborhood and ultimately your community which leads to your country as a whole… starting within our personal spaces like our homes is key, which means, importantly yourself. Then seek the help from various organisations which offer assistance for issues of Mental, Emotional, Substance Abuse, Family problems; Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, Poverty
Should you wish to donate to help us fight and break the cycles of these vicious atrocities of Human Trafficking and Gender based Violence especially during these perilous times and far into the future, You will be assisting and enabling us to fulfill our mission to Save Lives Through Awareness and Education.
Refer to our blog posted in 2021 which explains the different levels of Tier Levels which countries have been categorized into- click on the link below
Should you wish to donate to help us fight and break the cycles of these vicious atrocities of Human Trafficking and Gender based Violence especially during these perilous times and far into the future, You will be assisting and enabling us to fulfill our mission to Save Lives Through Awareness and Education.
Relinquishing interests and claims over one’s offspring in an illegal way, with the intent of never resuming or reasserting guardianship AND leaving a child younger than 12 months in a public or private place with the intent of terminating their care for the child, also referredto as BABY DUMPING.
RISKS OF ABANDONMENT
Emotional and Mental Risks:low self-esteem, difficulty emotionally attaching and trusting other caregivers, guilt, anxiety, clinginess, insomnia, eating disorders and depression
Security/Physical Risks:Death, Vulnerability to Paedophiles, Child Trafficking for the purposes of illegal adoption, child sex trafficking, organ harvesting which comprises of any one or more of the following such as for the purposes of muti, illegal ritual practices, illegal organ transplants.
The National Adoption Coalition of South Africa estimated that in 2020, out of a total of 83 infants found unsafely abandoned, only 34 were found alive and the other 49 were found dead
As per article in Sowetan 07/06/2022– More than 1 000 children in South Africa have been abandoned by their parents over the past two years. The shocking data was revealed by the Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu in response to a parliamentary question this week.https://sundayworld.co.za/news/shockingly-large-number-of-sa-children-are-abandoned/
The minister said in the period from April 2019 to March 2020, a total of 589 children were reported abandoned, while from April 2020 to March 2021, a total of 435 kids were abandoned.
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES:
Child abandonment is a criminal offence, and a person who abandons a child after birth may be charged and prosecuted. Charges could include crimes such as concealment of birth and attempted murder.
What to do should you find yourself for whatever reason not being able or wanting to keep your child:
LEGAL ADOPTION IS THE ONLY SAFE ALTERNATIVE.
Contact a social worker. They can help with placing the child in foster care or adoption programmes. If that’s not possible, the social worker can also assist with placing the child in a youth care centre.
Whilst there are baby sanctuaries and centres deemed safe like the police stations, churches, child and youth care centres where one can go to and request help, Know that in South Africa it is a criminal offence to just abandon a child.
The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 intends:
to give effect to certain rights of children as contained in the Constitution;
to set out principles relating to the care and protection of children;
to define parental responsibilities and rights;
to make further provision regarding children’s courts;
to provide for the issuing of contribution orders;
to make new provision for the adoption of children;
to provide for inter-country adoption;
to give effect to the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption;
to prohibit child abduction and to give effect to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction;
to provide for surrogate motherhood;
to create certain new offences relating to children; and
Extract from an article by The Conversation on 20 July 2020
Baby savers around the world
So what is a baby saver? It is also referred to as a baby safe, baby box and the babyklappen (in Germany). The saver allows a mother or relinquishing person to anonymously and safely leave an infant in a box-like structure built in to a wall. An alarm is triggered when the infant is placed inside and emergency medical teams or first responders are immediately notified. The infant is collected and taken to a place of safety.
Currently there are 35 organisations that have actively introduced baby savers in South Africa. The first was the Door of Hope Children’s Mission, established in 1999 despite the absence of legal backing. To date 240 babies have been saved through this facility.
These organisations provide a space for mothers to safely give up their babies. Babies found after surviving unsafe abandonment are also brought to these organisations. But without legalisation the areas in which these savers are located are not widely publicised. This limits the access desperate mothers have to them and this also impedes the establishment of further savers in South Africa.
Unsafe infant abandonment is not unique to South Africa. Many countries around the world face this harsh reality, but some have developed alternatives. They may do it in different ways but they all aim to safeguard the child’s right to life.
The first legalisation of the use of a baby saver was through the Baby Moses law enacted in Texas in 1999 after a spate of unsafe abandonments state-wide left 33 abandoned infants dead out of a total of 105. This was closely followed by Germany, which implemented the use of the babyklappen in 2000. Between 2001 and 2007, 143 infants were safely relinquished in these safes.
In January 2019, Namibia became the only African country to introduce baby safe haven laws.
Orientation session where all the details are explained.
Complete the application forms and return them to the agency.
Complete a personal profile and return it to the agency.
Apply for a police clearance certificate.
Undergo psychometric testing.
An interview with a social worker.
Giving a child up for adoption isn’t always easy, the decision requires a lot of thought to ensure that it will be in the best interest of the child. Child protection organisations and the Department of Social Development will provide guidance and support services to assist you throughout the process.
How the process works
In terms of section 233(4) of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, a person must prove that he or she was counselled by an adoption social worker before signing permission for the adoption.
The presiding officer must explain in private to the parent exactly how and when all parental rights will be transferred to the adoptive parents. Legal guardians must go through this same procedure, this includes the maternal grandparents in the case of a minor birth mother, as well as the child if the child is over the age of 10.
Two different, but equally legal, ways of adoption are possible in terms of the Children’s Act:
disclosed adoption: where the parties know each other’s identity, for instance, stepfamily or foster parents, or
non-disclosed adoption: when a child is matched with non-relatives unknown to the parents.
Giving consent
Both the mother and the father must consent to the adoption by a specific person or persons. If the child is 10 years and older, the child must also consent to the adoption. If the child is in foster care, the foster parents must also certify that they don’t wish to adopt the child.
One can give consent in the following way:
If you’re a parent or guardian of the child, complete Form 61, the parent or guardian must give consent for a child to be adopted.
If you’re a child that’s 10 years of age or older, complete Form 62, the child must give consent to their adoption.
One must give consent in writing. In South Africa, the person or persons giving the consent must sign it in the presence of a presiding officer of the children’s court, who shall then attest to the consent.
The consent should contain the names of the proposed adoptive parents. If it is in the child’s best interest, the children’s court may admit consent by the child’s parents or guardian which doesn’t contain the names or any other particulars of the proposed adoptive parents.
Consent isn’t necessary (this isn’t automatic, as the court needs to make a factual finding) if:
the child is an orphan and has no guardian or caregiver who is willing and able to adopt the child and the court is provided with certified copies of the child’s parents or guardians death certificate or such other documentation as may be required by the court;
the parent or guardian is incompetent to give consent due to mental illness;
the parent or guardian has abandoned the child, or if the whereabouts of that parent or guardian can’t be established, or if the identity of that parent or guardian is unknown;
the parent or guardian has abused or deliberately neglected the child, or has allowed the child to be abused or deliberately neglected;
the parent or guardian has consistently failed to fulfil his or her parental responsibilities towards the child during the last 12 months;
the parent or guardian has been divested by an order of a court of the right to consent to the adoption of the child; or
the parent or guardian has failed to respond to a notice of the proposed adoption (referred to in section 238 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005) within 30 days of service of the notice.
Should you wish to donate to help us fight and break the cycles of these vicious atrocities of Human Trafficking and Gender based Violence especially during these perilous times and far into the future, You will be assisting and enabling us to fulfill our mission to Save Lives Through Awareness and Education.
29 May – 5 June 2022 is Child Protection Week in SA🇿🇦
National Child Protection Week is commemorated in the country annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).
The aim of Child Protection Week (CPW) in South Africa is to raise awareness on the need to protect children against abuse, exploitation, neglect and all forms of violence. South Africans can support Child Protection Week by ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society do not suffer abuse.
The 5 P’s in Child Protection:
Children’s (NI) Order 1995 The 5 key principles of the Children’s Order 1995 are known as the 5 P’s: Prevention, Paramountcy, Partnership, Protection and Parental Responsibility.
Get help
The Department of Social Development has a pilot a 24-hour call centre dedicated to provide support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence:
The toll-free number to call is 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV) to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling.
Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
Should you wish to donate to help us fight and break the cycles of these vicious atrocities of Human Trafficking and Gender based Violence especially during these perilous times and far into the future, You will be assisting and enabling us to fulfill our mission to Save Lives Through Awareness and Education.
Innocence Lost as described in our previous blog is a play on Child Trafficking by the National Childrens’s Theatre SA and with the support of ACT Africa was showcased to 23 schools in human trafficking hotspots in and around Gauteng.
The actors from NCT along with ACT Africa travelled daily for the two weeks with such determination, perseverance and heart to showcase the play in order to bring about the much needed and vital Human/Child Trafficking to in excess of four thousand youth from Grade 6 to Grade 12. This was an eye opener for the youth as well as adults (educators) present and was excellenty received at the schools. Yes, this was not your usual awareness it was done in the form of a theatrical performance which was engaging and impactful. Most of the children at these schools have never seen or been exposed to a Theatrical performance, so whilst this was to bring about awareness it was also a real cultural treat for the children.and this was evident too from their reactions. Going to the theatre for most of them is not even on their agendas due to poverty and not being able to afford to go as well just never being privy to being exposed to just the thought of attending a theatre show and now this was brought to them, to their schools ….An experience the children will not easily forget. https://youtu.be/4tFl9SpADbQ
The experience was bitter sweet . As this much needed awareness was brought, so we could see that what was being showcased – abuse, rape, human trafficking – was a normal way of life for them and accepted as such. Innocence Lost Child Trafficking Awareness play brought about the stark reality that these evils/atrocities plaguing our children, our homes, communities, country and the world at large are not normal but is indeed abnormal, must not be kept quiet and that help is there and this flipped the coin for many. Our first question a young girl asked on our first day was not about the play but ” Where can one get help” ….that is indicative of a possible abusive situation. Everyday day for the two weeks children would ask questions as well as come to ACT Africa for help. Reports from educators following this awareness is that children came to speak to their educators too to ask for help and in all cases the appropriate help was provided. Our Youth are going through sheer hell which no child in their lifetime should experience and being robbed of their childhood/ youth as a result of abuse. They developing survival mechanisms to cope which is resulting in behavioural problems because healing is not taking place. Children should not be developing survival mechanisms to cope with daily life, they should just be children and enjoying their childhood. So the tragedy of abuse coming to the fore was bitter but the sweet was that children now realised that they can and should speak out and ask for help.
The showcasing of Innocence Lost Child Trafficking Awareness play has now ended as well as the Human/Child trafficking awareness it provided due to lack of funding to continue. We have had excellent reports from the public, children, educators and media https://youtu.be/0PMXkd6oOpkhttps://twitter.com/Abramjee/status/1523373041928925184?t=qWOk63zXcuKDEmxaYQO1Ww&s=08 but whereto from here?… Unless we receive the much needed funding to continue the vital and much needed Awareness and Education to break the cycles of Human Trafficking and Gender-based Violence that question will remain unanswered sadly…
I refer to my previous blog which details statistics and the importance of continued and regular Human Trafficking and Gender-based Violence Awareness and Education in order to break these cycles – https://www.actafrica.org.za/innocence-lost/
We would like to provide Human/Child Trafficking and Gender -based Violence Awareness by taking Innocence Lost Child Trafficking Theatre performance to schools, universiies and wherever else we can throughout South Africa and beyond if possible but cannot do so without Your Help of Funding….
Should you wish to donate to help us fight and break the cycles of these vicious atrocities of Human Trafficking and Gender based Violence especially during these perilous times and far into the future, You will be assisting and enabling us to fulfill our mission to Save Lives Through Awareness and Education.
Consent isn’t necessary (this isn’t automatic, as the court needs to make a factual finding) if:
