RE: LOBBYING FOR THE INCLUSION OF PROVISIONS TO BE INCLUDED ON TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILDREN'S BILL

Molo Songololo is a child rights organisation that has been in existence since 1979. Our primary functions are to lobby and advocate for the rights, protection, safety and care of children and to place children's interest at the centre of the organisation's work.

MOLO SONGOLOLO conducted two research studies around children and sexual exploitation namely:

1) The trafficking of children for purposes of sexual exploitation (2000) and

2) Child Sexual Exploitation in Atlantis respectively (2003)

Some of the key findings of the studies indicate that:

• The phenomena is on the increase

• Child victims are getting younger and younger

• Parents are among the traffickers of children

• Poverty, coupled with other social factors, seems to be the overriding factor to the vulnerability of children and reason why they are trafficked

The report made certain recommendations with regard to the safety, protection and care of children that have been trafficked. In addition, recommendations were also made to deal with the issue on a structural level

Some of the recommendations of the research report included:

• Legislative change

• Register of sex offenders

• Restorative justice to victims

• that training of service providers is essential

• service delivery

We hope to lobby senior government officials for the prioritisation of trafficking legislation as well as a crime code for trafficking. We look forward to a closer working relationship with you Honourable Ministers. We appreciate your input and your involvement in addressing violence against women and children of which trafficking is one of the manifestations.

Looking forward to a favourable response.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Debora Mobilyn

Lobbying and Advocacy Officer