Click here to listen to the mp3 advert for The Salvation Army's anti-human trafficking message

Click here to watch the footage taken by News24 at the Long Walk for Rhino's Mandela Day initiative at Robben Island School. (QVC donated Media Liaison to this initiative as part of its Mandela Day initiatives)

 Quo Vadis Communications on a field trip to KwaZulu Natal for client, Siyazisiza Trust.

Victoria Makalima, assistant Director for the Johnson and Johnson Burn Treatment Centre (left) and Roger Crawford, Executive Director, Worldwide Government Affairs and Policy for Johnson & Johnson (back right) happily assisted Nurse Ester Manson and clinical officer William Kalua from Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi throughout their two-week specialised training session at the Burn Treatment Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The training took place as a result of a public private partnership between the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johnson & Johnson, and the University of North Carolina in USA. The hospital in Malawi recently opened a burn unit and the hands-on training Ester and William received at the leading burn treatment centre in Africa, will no doubt make a huge difference in the lives of those in need.

Several young women trapped in prostitution have left the streets and have been provided with an opportunity to a better and healthier life, following an initiative by the Salvation Army and the South African Police Service.

As part of its ongoing fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women, the Salvation Army recently assisted the police in the South of Johannesburg in a joint effort to rescue women involved in prostitution. 

According to Major Marieke Venter, The Salvation Army’s divisional director for women’s ministries and national coordinator of the anti-human trafficking task team, a number of girls and women expressed their desire to change their lives and were taken to a safe place where they are receiving counselling and practical assistance.

"Many young women are involved in prostitution for lack of alternatives, not because they have willingly chosen this way of life,” Major Venter said.

“The Salvation Army rejects human trafficking and abuse of power for the purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labour.”

In celebration of the International Women’s Day, the Salvation Army continues to be at the forefront of an anti-human trafficking campaign in South Africa and beyond. Part of the campaign is a 24-hour toll free hotline number 08000 RESCU (08000 73728). 

"The toll free hotline is a platform for anyone with tip-offs on all suspected human trafficking cases to report them to The Salvation Army,” said Major Venter.

Since the inception of this toll free hotline, the Salvation Army has received close to 40 calls relating to possible cases of human trafficking.

“As the Salvation Army, we acknowledge our Christian responsibility to be actively engaged in the prevention of human trafficking and the protection of the victims, especially women and children,” she added.

The Army is aware of the needs of the girl child in society and promotes the rights of the girl child to health, education and the freedom to make informed choices about her own life and future. 

Recognising that the fight against human trafficking is closely linked to the fight for social justice, The Salvation Army will continue to address the underlying issues rooted in poverty, unemployment, gender inequality and inadequate education. 

Major Venter also said that the Salvation Army understands that there are still many inequalities between the genders in modern society, and therefore seeks to promote the protection and support of vulnerable women, recognising that most victims of crimes such as human trafficking and domestic violence are women.

“The Salvation Army has developed numerous programmes to assist women who have been abused and therefore continuously seeks to promote Christian family values, in order to prevent the abuse of women and children,” Venter explained.

*Due to the sensitivity of the situation, the Salvation Army is withholding the identity of these women in order to protect them.*

Last changed: Jul 17 2011 at 1:54 PM