SPECIALIST UOC OPERATIVE SHINED SPOTLIGHT ON DANGERS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RELATED MATTERS AT SA CATHOLICS BISHOPS CONFERENCE

Amy Arnold, UOC’s specialist operative was invited by the National Freedom Network recently to represent the NFN at the Southern African Catholics Bishop’s Conference in Mpumalanga to educate and enlighten the rural communities about the dangers of trafficking and sexual grooming of children and the measures that can be taken to prevent and address these crimes. Unchain Our Children is a current member of NFN.

“The National Freedom Network (NFN) was formally launched in May 2011, with the aim to connect all the various counter-trafficking organizations with one another as well as with other role players across the movement. It has since grown into South Africa’s counter-trafficking network.”                                                             Excerpt:  NFN Website

Meeting with Community workers & Religious Leaders

The delegates spent 2 days in the rural area of Mpumalanga.  On day one, Amy  spoke to community workers and religious leaders and explained the hideous details about sexual exploitation and grooming of children.  She also explained the Trafficking Act and how to report any incidents of that nature.

School Visits

Day 2 was set aside for visits to a primary and secondary school in the area.  Children learned about privacy rules, boundaries and how to recognize exploitation and grooming. The young audience and the teachers were receptive and keen participants and interacted enthusiastically with Amy’s presentation.

Meeting with the Migrants

Migrants in the area between Eswatini and Mozambique were not excluded in the educational campaign.  90 Migrants, mostly Mozambique citizens, attended the briefing session and they were informed about the reality of exploitation.

Migrant, man, woman or child, no one should be subjected to the wiles of the trafficker who deceives through trickery once they have identified their victim. They zoom in on those who seem lost, lonely, depressed, deprived and even the mentally challenged.  Their weaknesses are quickly spotted and they are promised good things, work, friendship, romance or even new lives in far lands, but it is not true, it is the lure to they use to convince victims to go along with their deceit.

A National Freedom Network (NFN) Representative alerted them to the cunning scams going around, like funeral scams, transporters and other devious and unlawful activities that they can fall prey to. 

South Africa’s TIP Act applied to Migrants

Migrants are protected by the South African Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Act, whether they are travelling through South Africa or whether they are in South Africa at the time of an incident.  The TIP act applies to them even although they are not South African citizens. 

“The "SOUTH AFRICAN TIP ACT," formally known as the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, is a South African law that addresses human trafficking. Its main objectives are to fulfil international obligations related to trafficking, define the offense of trafficking and related crimes, establish penalties, provide protection and assistance to victims, and ensure coordinated implementation and enforcement of the act.”

Amy emphasized that they are included in the SA TIP Act.  A Human Rights Lawyer was available via Zoom to answer the questions that the attendees had, especially documentation and relating matters.

Amy Arnold served 14 years in Law enforcement in the USA. Her star-studded career includes as a Trainer for Police Academy, a Domestic Violence Detective, a Patrol Sergeant, an Instructor for Train the Trainer program in Malawi for Police Officers; In South Africa, she is the Specialized counter-trafficking Operative for Unchain Our Children and she is participating on several task teams with government to combat and investigate trafficking.

Although the law of the land provides protection, it is God’s law of love and redemption that guarantees true liberty.  If His Son, Jesus Christ sets you free, you will be free indeed.  God’s truth equally applies to both victim and perpetrator and is accessible to all.  It is however a personal choice, to believe or not to believe.  Amy, with her vast knowledge and experience of the law and law enforcement, and her solid Christian foundation, shared both with them.

Take Action:

Invite Amy Arnold as Guest Speaker:  Call Wayne

Report Child Abuse and Trafficking:  Call UOC National Crisis Line

Discover & Contact:

National Freedom Network (NFN) : https://nfn.org.za/