Prostitution to soar during WC?

2006-11-07 08:07

Johannesburg - A National Human Trafficking Awareness campaign will kick off next week, aimed at combating prostitution before the 2010 World Cup.

Spokesperson Nomsa Masombuka says the campaign is aimed at alerting people to the horror of human trafficking. "We want to stop people falling prey to sex slavery and exploitation in any form. We hope to reduce the incidence of this crime before the 2010 World Cup," she said.

The NGO Doctors for Life has also expressed concern that there could be a dramatic increase in human trafficking to supply prostitutes for the spectators.

Dr Albu van Eeden, the head of Doctors for Life, said an estimated 40 000 women were trafficked from the Far East and East Bloc countries into Germany to work as prostitutes during the World Cup.

"And we obviously foresee the same kind of thing happening in the World Cup that's coming in 2010. South Africa has no legislation in place against human trafficking," he said.

Authorities in Germany introduced effective campaigns to raise awareness about similar problems in the build-up to the 2006 World Cup.

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- Kickoff