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SA sex slave hub
24/06/2004 08:06 - (SA)
Marida Fitzpatrick , Beeld
Johannesburg - South Africa is the sex-trade hub of Africa, a congress on human trafficking has been told.
Addressing a congress in Benoni on the sex-slave trade, Jonathan Martens of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said that South Africa was a favourite spot for syndicate leaders in the human trafficking industry because it was an ideal destination and an ideal source of sex slaves.
"It is difficult to get statistics, but it is safe to say South Africa is at the top of the list when it comes to human trafficking and sex slavery in southern Africa and Africa," said Martens.
Teenage girls and young women are tricked into coming to South Africa from poor countries. They are promised work, prosperity and money, he said.
"South Africa is a country of opportunity and prosperity. Crime syndicates use this image to get victims to the country under false pretences."
In addition to this, South Africa has flights to all the continents in the world.
Martens said: "This makes the country ideal for the import and export of sex slaves."
According to him, victims seldom have a chance to escape: "They have nothing and they are in the country illegally. Even if the door is left open, they have nowhere to run."
Human trafficking is a massive industry in the world - one which generates about R100bn annually - it is not illegal in many countries, South Africa included.
"Human trafficking is as big as the drug- and arms-smuggling industries, but it does not get nearly as much attention. It is extremely profitable for crime syndicates because of the lack of legislation."
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