South Africa / IOM Report Finds Migrants Entering Musina from Zimbabwe Vulnerable to Human Trafficking

 

 

 

 

South Africa / IOM Report Finds Migrants Entering Musina from Zimbabwe Vulnerable to Human Trafficking

 

PRETORIA, South Africa, March 26, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IOM Press Briefing Notes

A report released this week by the IOM office in Musina, in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, has found evidence of the trafficking of migrants entering South Africa from Zimbabwe.

The report, “Wolves in Sheep’s Skin: A Rapid Assessment of Human Trafficking in Musina, Limpopo Province of South Africa”, finds that migrants in the region are regularly subjected to high levels of abuse and violence, which in turn makes them vulnerable to trafficking.

It specifically identifies cases involving trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation, forced criminal activity such as the sale of illegal substances, servitude, extortion and other forms of exploitation.

The report, which was launch by IOM Deputy Director General Laura Thompson, found that some migrant groups are particularly at risk, such as victims of Sexual and Gender‐Based Violence (SGBV); those who have been stranded, robbed or subjected to other forms of violence; women and girls involved in prostitution and transactional sexual behaviour; and unaccompanied minors travelling alone or with adults.

Situated approximately 20 km from the Zimbabwean border, Musina is the point of entry for a large number of Zimbabwean migrants. A total of 130 respondents from Zimbabwe and South Africa were interviewed in August 2009, including migrants, government officials, service providers, farm managers and so called malaisha or taxi drivers, frequently involved in human smuggling.  

Identified factors contributing to migrant vulnerability include the political and socio-economic insatiability in Zimbabwe, the lack of adequate border controls, difficulty in obtaining travel documents, the establishment of informal criminal networks, an increase in the movement of women and unaccompanied minors, and a lack of awareness and experience regarding safe migration.

The report also notes that addressing the incidence of violence and abuse reported by migrants – and particularly by women and children – is as critical as the issue of human trafficking itself.    

The assessment also revealed that migrants in Musina are vulnerable to a range of health care concerns such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive health problems, physical trauma, negative psychosocial reactions, malnutrition and limited access to health care.  

The report identifies shortfalls in policy and practice with regard to human trafficking in Musina, including insufficient capacity of law enforcement and border officials to identify cases of human trafficking; inadequate referral, shelter and assistance networks; and deficient investigation and prosecution of incidences of abuse and violence against migrants.

Related to these is the fact that may of the abuses occur along the Limpopo River, making jurisdiction difficult to determine.

Recommendations from the report include:

* increasing the ability of communities, service providers, and law enforcement officials to identify and provide assistance to cases of human trafficking;  
* establishing reporting mechanisms such as hotlines, coupled with the provision of incentives for victims to report cases;
* expanding existing referral and assistance networks;
* capacity building of healthcare systems regarding timely, gender-sensitive and child-friendly assistance to victims of trafficking, exploitation and SGBV-related crimes;
* conducting prevention activities towards vulnerable groups and information campaigns on human trafficking and safe migration;

The report, which is funded by the Norwegian Embassy in South Africa, is available online at:
 
http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/activities/countries/docs/wss_human_trafficking_assessment.pdf

SOURCE 

International Office of Migration (IOM)