CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

According to Human Rights Watch, South Africa is a tier 2 source of transit, and destination for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for sexual exploitation.

The Children's Act became law in April 2008 and offers increased protection for children and the promotion of children's rights. The Child Justice Act passed in June established a separate criminal justice procedural system for child offenders. It also increased the minimum age of criminal capacity from 7 to 10 years, but allows for mandatory minimum sentences-including life sentences for offenses such as murder and the rape of a minor-to be applicable to children ages 16 and 17 years. This is despite constitutional provisions that children should be detained only as a last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time, and despite the call by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for life imprisonment of child offenders to be abolished.

Additionally, around 122,000 children live in child-headed households, making them particularly vulnerable to discrimination, ostracism, social exclusion, and sexual exploitation. Unaccompanied refugee and asylum-seeking children face obstacles and delays in accessing the courts to formalize their status, resulting in informal foster placements and delays in accessing social welfare.

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CORRUPTION

Corruption is a huge issue in a country with rampant crime. It is a deeply ingrained part of daily life which has a powerful effect on economic growth, which while the highest in the African continent still leaves the vast majority of its people poor and excluded.

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ENVIRONMENT

Issues affecting the environment include: lack of extensive water conservation of important arterial rivers or lakes. The growth in water usage is outpacing supply. Pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge and air pollution is leading to acid rain, soil erosion and desertification.

HUMAN RIGHTS

According to Human Rights Watch, South Africa is a tier 2 source of transit, and destination for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for sexual exploitation; women from other African countries are trafficked to South Africa and, less frequently, onward to Europe for sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked from neighboring countries for forced agricultural labor; Asian and Eastern European women are trafficked to South Africa for debt-bonded sexual exploitation.

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POWER IT FORWARD

Do a favor, give someone a break, offer help before it's asked for. Move the world around you and it will continue to move. Paying it forward is good work, personal work. Pass it on. Tell others to do the same.

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WATER

South Africa has not, until recently, regulated its industrial base in terms of chemical runoff and disposition. As a result a huge portion of the population drinks water that is laced with effluent.

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WOMEN’S RIGHTS

According to Human Rights Watch, South Africa is a tier 2 source of transit, and destination for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Women and girls are trafficked internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for sexual exploitation. Women from other African countries are trafficked to South Africa and, less frequently, onward to Europe for sexual exploitation. Men and boys are trafficked from neighboring countries for forced agricultural labor. Asian and Eastern European women are trafficked to South Africa for debt-bonded sexual exploitation. 

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