Sport and music stars from across South Africa are lending their
support to the country's first nationwide Human Trafficking
Awareness Week, which runs from 6-11 November 2006.

Organised by South African marketing company Diasporafric in
partnership with IOM’s Southern African Counter Trafficking
Assistance Programme (SACTAP) and with the support of Metro FM,
SABC and the Daily Sun Newspaper, the week– themed Blow the
Whistle– aims to raise awareness of the growing problem of
human trafficking in South Africa and encourage members of the
public to report suspected cases through the IOM national toll-free
helpline number: 0800 555 999.

IOM research has revealed that trafficking in human beings for
purposes of sexual exploitation is flourishing in South Africa,
with women being trafficked to the country from Southeast Asia,
Eastern Europe, as well as other African countries. There is also
evidence that growing numbers of South African women and children
are being trafficked both internally and to Europe and Asian
countries for sexual exploitation.

Highlights of the week include an awareness raising football
match between premier league teams the Kaizer Chiefs and
Bloemfontein Celtic on 8 November, and a concert with top South
African artists, including MTV award nominees Freshly Ground, in
Johannesburg on 11 November.

There will also be a nationwide distribution of orange
counter-trafficking bracelets carrying the IOM's toll-free help
line number, and interactive promotions in the streets and shopping
malls of Gauteng.

IOM Pretoria is also working with international advertising
agency Saatchi & Saatchi to create South Africa’s first
human trafficking television advert. This will be screened in early
2007.

For more information, please contact:

Karen Blackman

IOM Pretoria

Tel +27 12 342 11 20

E-mail "mailto:kblackman@iom.int">kblackman@iom.int