Latest News Archive
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News Items
| 2021-07-29 |
Dr Russell Ally appointed as UFS Senior Director: Institutional Advancement |
| 2021-07-29 |
Dr Russell Ally appointed as UFS Senior Director: Institutional Advancement |
| 2021-07-27 |
Violent events will continue to take place if poverty is not eradicated as a matter of urgency |
| 2021-07-27 |
Violent events will continue to take place if poverty is not eradicated as a matter of urgency |
| 2021-07-27 |
Unique X-ray system gives Department of Physics a competitive advantage |
| 2021-07-27 |
Unique X-ray system gives Department of Physics a competitive advantage |
| 2021-07-26 |
Everything you need to know about the 2021 Student Affairs Week |
| 2021-07-26 |
Everything you need to know about the 2021 Student Affairs Week |
| 2021-07-26 |
ARU pioneering mountain range-expanding project |
| 2021-07-26 |
ARU pioneering mountain range-expanding project |
| 2021-07-22 |
Kovsie alumni competes on sport’s biggest stage |
| 2021-07-22 |
Kovsie alumni competes on sport’s biggest stage |
| 2021-07-21 |
The historic context of the current riots and violence |
| 2021-07-21 |
The historic context of the current riots and violence |
| 2021-07-21 |
Building an economy, building hope |
| 2021-07-21 |
Building an economy, building hope |
| 2021-07-22 |
2020 UFS Annual Report |
| 2021-07-22 |
2020 UFS Annual Report |
| 2021-07-21 |
Book discussion: Helen Zille’s new book on South Africa’s woke culture |
| 2021-07-21 |
Book discussion: Helen Zille’s new book on South Africa’s woke culture |
| 2021-07-20 |
Prof Ivan Turok participates in Le Monde video report on city inequalities |
| 2021-07-20 |
Prof Ivan Turok participates in Le Monde video report on city inequalities |
| 2021-07-20 |
UFS Institute for Groundwater Studies earns national accreditation |
| 2021-07-20 |
UFS Institute for Groundwater Studies earns national accreditation |
| 2021-07-19 |
2021 Mandela Day Fitness Challenge |
| 2021-07-19 |
2021 Mandela Day Fitness Challenge |
| 2021-07-19 |
Welcome to Aurora, a new era of sensitivity |
| 2021-07-19 |
Welcome to Aurora, a new era of sensitivity |
| 2021-07-19 |
Dr Molapo Qhobela appointed as UFS Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact |
| 2021-07-19 |
Dr Molapo Qhobela appointed as UFS Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact |
| 2021-07-16 |
The UFS Food gardening project: a sustainable solution to food insecurity |
| 2021-07-16 |
The UFS Food gardening project: a sustainable solution to food insecurity |
| 2021-07-16 |
Mandela Day, it is about giving back |
| 2021-07-16 |
Mandela Day, it is about giving back |
| 2021-07-16 |
Gift of the Givers nutrition packs ensuring that no student goes hungry during lockdown |
| 2021-07-16 |
Gift of the Givers nutrition packs ensuring that no student goes hungry during lockdown |
| 2021-07-16 |
UFS partners in programme that promotes internationalisation and virtual exchanges |
| 2021-07-16 |
UFS partners in programme that promotes internationalisation and virtual exchanges |
| 2021-07-15 |
Are you the next 3MT South Africa winner? |
| 2021-07-15 |
Are you the next 3MT South Africa winner? |
| 2021-07-13 |
Human Rights Violations in Africa’s last absolute monarchy, Eswatini |
| 2021-07-13 |
Human Rights Violations in Africa’s last absolute monarchy, Eswatini |
| 2021-07-13 |
South African Doping Control Laboratory gets major financial boost to upgrade world-class service |
| 2021-07-13 |
South African Doping Control Laboratory gets major financial boost to upgrade world-class service |
| 2021-07-09 |
School of Accountancy graduates achieve exceptional results in SAICA ITC professional exams |
| 2021-07-09 |
School of Accountancy graduates achieve exceptional results in SAICA ITC professional exams |
| 2021-07-09 |
Global citizenship and the Sustainable Development Goals |
| 2021-07-09 |
Global citizenship and the Sustainable Development Goals |
| 2021-07-09 |
Kovsie athletes elected to prominent administrative roles |
| 2021-07-09 |
Kovsie athletes elected to prominent administrative roles |
| 2021-07-08 |
Prof Anthea van Jaarsveld wants UFS Drama to shine again |
| 2021-07-08 |
Prof Anthea van Jaarsveld wants UFS Drama to shine again |
| 2021-07-06 |
The Nkandla drama: From tea parties to threats to constitutionalism |
| 2021-07-06 |
The Nkandla drama: From tea parties to threats to constitutionalism |
| 2021-07-06 |
Mutshidzi Mulondo among Mail & Guardian’s influential young South Africans |
| 2021-07-06 |
Mutshidzi Mulondo among Mail & Guardian’s influential young South Africans |
| 2021-07-05 |
Mental Health Awareness: A Holistic Approach to Improving your Well-being |
| 2021-07-05 |
Mental Health Awareness: A Holistic Approach to Improving your Well-being |
| 2021-07-05 |
Voices from the Free State podcast episode six – featuring Karla Pretorius |
| 2021-07-05 |
Voices from the Free State podcast episode six – featuring Karla Pretorius |
| 2021-07-01 |
Local government elections: Don’t expect any real change with new local government |
| 2021-07-01 |
Local government elections: Don’t expect any real change with new local government |
| 2021-07-01 |
Beacon of hope flares the 45th Youth Day anniversary celebration |
| 2021-07-01 |
Beacon of hope flares the 45th Youth Day anniversary celebration |
UFS’s Unit for Children’s Rights instrumental in helping human trafficked victim
2010-03-29
 |
Adv. Beatri Kruger.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs |
“Wheeling and dealing is part of our daily life. But what if the ‘product’ bought or sold is not a spanner or a cell phone, but a living human being? Disturbing news came to the fore... apart from other places in the country, and for that matter all over the world, it was discovered that people are treated like commodities here in Bloemfontein as well,” said Adv. Beatri Kruger from the Unit for Children’s Rights at the University of the Free State (UFS).
Adv. Kruger was instrumental in completing and availing the first comprehensive Research Report on Human Trafficking in South Africa to the public on 23 March 2010. As a member of the Reference Group advising on interim research reports on human trafficking, she contributed to the report. The report proves to be an extremely valuable tool for, among others, government departments and non-governmental organisations that use it as a guideline in planning interventions to combat human trafficking.
The Unit for Children’s Rights is also one of the founding members of the Free State Human Trafficking Forum (FHF). To react on and fight the disturbing reality of human trafficking more efficiently, a number of concerned role players such as Child Welfare and other non-governmental organisations, police officials, prosecutors, social workers, health practitioners, private businesses, churches and community organisations joined forces and formed the FHF. The Unit for Children’s Rights hosts monthly meetings at the UFS to facilitate the coordination of this multi-disciplinary counter-trafficking team.
Adv. Kruger is very excited about some of the successes of the FHF; such as the story of Soma (not her real name). This Indian woman was recruited in India by an Indian couple who are staying in South Africa, by promising her a good job in South Africa. However, instead of finding the promised job, Soma was extensively exploited for labour purposes. With the help of a “good Samaritan” she managed to escape from the perpetrators and fled to the police. Soma was removed to ensure her safety and accommodated in a safe place in Bloemfontein. Counselling and other services were rendered to her by an organisation which is also a member of the FHF. One of the challenges facing Soma and the service providers was that Soma speaks a foreign dialect and for weeks a trusted interpreter could not be found.
This obstacle rendered communication with her to the bare minimum. The perpetrators were arrested but unfortunately the new comprehensive counter-trafficking law is not in force yet. Therefore the perpetrators could only be convicted of some offences in the Immigration Act. However, due to good police investigation followed by shrewd consultations, the perpetrators agreed to pay for the victim’s return flight to India as well as for the flight ticket of the investigating officer to escort her to safety. The Unit for Children’s Rights did networking with Ms Maria Nikolovska of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who agreed to assist in the safe reintegration of Soma in India. Soma is now on her way back home. |