|
|
The partnership between Lesotho and
South Africa Child Help Line through human trafficking forum
has successfully managed to reintegrate an abused 14-year
girl from Mafeteng District (Lesotho) who had been sexually
and emotionally abused in Bloemfontein back to her home in
Mafeteng – Lesotho.
Anna-Marie from Child welfare in Bloemfontein contacted
Lesotho Child help line about an abused child who was then
in their custody. The child was given by his mother to a
Mosotho man now living in Bloemfontein in South Africa.
 The
mother is a widow residing in Mafeteng. She had relationship
with the man in Bloemfontein. Upon his departure the mother
sold her child to the man in Bloemfontein for sex in
exchange for money. Apparently the mother had a legal travel
document, but the daughter did not have one. Therefore the
mother arranged illegal means for her to cross the boarder
to Bloemfontein.
When in Bloemfontein the man used the girl as sex slave.
Later the child reported the incidence to Child Help line in
Free State and she was taken to the place of safety while
communicating the matter to the Child Help Line in Lesotho.
With the collaboration of the abused child and the Lesotho
Child Help Line they were able to trace the mother in
Mafeteng and she was arrested. During the case the man said
that he married the girl and the money that he paid to the
mother was the bride price. According to Sexual Offence Act
2003, marrying the minor even with her concern is an
offence.
The mother asked for mitigation that she is a widow live in
poverty and she has to take care of her children. She was
sorry and asked for forgiveness for giving -out her child to
curb her poverty circumstance.
Meanwhile, after the psychosocial therapy the child was
returned home in Mafeteng under the custody of the uncle.
This case shows that even parents are capable traffickers of
their own children. Therefore, there is need for a concerted
effort in fighting this phenomenon through child rights
advocacy and education. Child Help line encourages training
of adults on livelihoods and farming techniques to curb
poverty to avoid being tempted in trafficking their children
in exchange for cash.
This case was successful and the child was able to trace her
family with the help of child help line. |
|
