Human Trafficking in [Swaziland] [other countries]
Street Children in [Swaziland] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Swaziland] [other countries]
 

Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

Kingdom of Swaziland [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Kingdom of Swaziland [map], located in SE Africa, is bordered by the Republic of South Africa (S, W, & N) and by Mozambique (E). Its capital and largest city is Mbabane. In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 80% of the population. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as continuing problems. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004-05 because of drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.

Swaziland is a source, transit, and likely a destination country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation, but the existence of a significant number of trafficking victims is unconfirmed. Anecdotal evidence indicates that Swazi girls, particularly orphans, are trafficked within the country for commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude in the cities of Mbabane and Manzini, as well as to South Africa and Mozambique for the same purposes. Swazi boys may be trafficked for forced labor in commercial agriculture and market vending. Some Swazi women are forced into prostitution in South Africa and possibly Mozambique after migrating to these countries in search of work. Small numbers of Mozambican women may be trafficked to Swaziland for sexual exploitation, and perhaps transit through the country en route to South Africa. Mozambican boys migrate to Swaziland to obtain jobs requiring low-skilled manual labor, such as car washing, livestock herding, and portering; some of these boys may be victims of human trafficking. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2008 [full country report]

CAUTION:  The following links have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Swaziland. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

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Swazi trafficking

The ambassador from Swaziland said yesterday that the tiny southern African kingdom is victimized by smugglers who sell women into prostitution and children into forced labor. Ambassador Ephraim M. Hlophe added that his government endorsed the anti-trafficking bill President Bush signed Jan. 10.

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National Plan of Action

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

CHILD LABOR LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT - Forced and bonded labor, including by children, is also prohibited.  Children are protected by law against child pornography and sexual exploitation.  There is no law prohibiting trafficking in persons.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons, and there were reports of trafficking of small numbers of women and girls. Underage Mozambican and Swazi girls reportedly worked as prostitutes in the country or were trafficked to South Africa for domestic work or prostitution. There is no government agency specifically responsible for combating trafficking.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2006 [DOC]

[61] The Committee notes the brief assessment of child labour that was undertaken in the State party but is concerned about the limited information on measures the State party intends to take, or has undertaken, to prevent and eliminate child labour.

Human trafficking rife in SA

They are promised a better life in South Africa, but instead they are kidnapped, branded and sold into sexual slavery for as little as R380. Women and children, some as young as 13, are falling prey to syndicates operating in Mozambique and Swaziland, trafficking and smuggling them to South Africa on an unprecedented scale.

The Protection Project - Swaziland [DOC]

FORMS OF TRAFFICKING – Young girls have been lured to South Africa from Swaziland for forced prostitution. Trading of emergency food aid for sexual favors has been a problem in Swaziland. Women and children have been told that they must have sex with warehouse managers or truck drivers so they can receive the food aid.

Human Trafficking Stretches Across the Region

Women from rural China, many of them poorly-educated, are often brought to South Africa, said Martens. The women are flown to Johannesburg, and then taken to Swaziland, Lesotho or Mozambique. They then cross the border back into South Africa - all this in a bid to circumvent airport immigration controls.

Swazi trafficking

The ambassador from Swaziland said yesterday that the tiny southern African kingdom is victimized by smugglers who sell women into prostitution and children into forced labor. Ambassador Ephraim M. Hlophe added that his government endorsed the anti-trafficking bill President Bush signed Jan. 10.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa regional centre for human trafficking

"The women stay in transit houses along South Africa's border with Mozambique and Swaziland for a night, where they are sexually assaulted as an initiation. They are then smuggled into Johannesburg and are kept in safe houses in Soweto and Lenasia until they are sold to brothels in Gauteng or KwaZulu-Natal for R1,000 (about $160)," Martens said. The women are also sold as wives to South African men for R650 (about $104).

Freedom House Country Report - Political Rights: 7 Civil Liberties: 5 Status: Not Free

Human Rights Overview by Human Rights Watch – Defending Human Rights Worldwide

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Human Trafficking in [Swaziland] [other countries]
Street Children in [Swaziland] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Swaziland] [other countries]