Breaking Chains: Unchain Our Children's Crusade Against Child Trafficking in South Africa
- linettelintvelt
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
Pretoria, August 20, 2025 - More than 70 social workers from the Department of Social Development and various other Child Protection Organizations (CPOs) gathered in Moregloed, Pretoria, for a pivotal training and networking session presented by Unchain Our Children in cooperation with Department of Social Development.

Led by UOC's Specialist Operative Amy Arnold, the event focused on equipping professionals with advanced skills to combat human trafficking, particularly among children. This initiative underscores UOC's longstanding commitment to not only intervening in cases but also preventing exploitation through education and empowerment.

Human trafficking has surged globally and in South Africa, exacerbating vulnerabilities amid poverty, conflict, and climate challenges. According to the 2024 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, detected victims worldwide rose 25% from 2019 to 2022, with child victims increasing by 31%. In Africa, child trafficking poses a major threat, with children comprising a significant share of victims, often trafficked within the continent for forced labor, sexual exploitation, and begging.

South Africa faces a rising crisis: a child goes missing every five hours, many linked to trafficking, while Southern Africa's child victim rate per 100,000 jumped 43% between 2019 and 2020. Reports indicate 64% of trafficked victims in the region are children, highlighting the urgent need for action.

Social workers and police officers grapple with these escalations, facing limited resources, complex trauma, and legal delays. Advanced training is essential to identify victims, navigate cultural sensitivities, and support survivors effectively.

UOC, through Arnold's expertise in interventions and investigations, has delivered such programs for years, training personnel from SAPS, the Department of Social Development, and CPOs. Arnold's sessions cover child rights laws, justice processes, trafficking indicators, trafficker strategies targeting youth, and collaborative approaches with reputable organizations.

Success demands multi-disciplinary initiatives and teamwork. Government departments, NGOs, and law enforcement must unite for short-, medium-, and long-term wins, addressing trafficking's life-destroying impacts. UOC's two-tier strategy—interventions alongside training, ensures no slack in the fight.

Traffickers prioritize control, breaking victims with fear to subdue their will and spirit. For survivors, counseling and therapy are vital to heal from severe trauma. By empowering those in power, UOC fosters hope, unchaining South Africa's children from this darkness.

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