Latest News Archive
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News Items
| 2022-07-29 |
Ugandan scientists visit UFS traditional medicine expert for benchmarking |
| 2022-07-29 |
Ugandan scientists visit UFS traditional medicine expert for benchmarking |
| 2022-06-28 |
Prof Francis Petersen shares insights about his term in conversation with Leanne Manas |
| 2022-06-28 |
Prof Francis Petersen shares insights about his term in conversation with Leanne Manas |
| 2022-07-27 |
Three ISG fellows to publish African history books through international grant |
| 2022-07-27 |
Three ISG fellows to publish African history books through international grant |
| 2022-07-27 |
Pregnancy and breast-feeding an indication for vaccination |
| 2022-07-27 |
Pregnancy and breast-feeding an indication for vaccination |
| 2022-07-26 |
UFS contingent flying national flag at Commonwealth Games |
| 2022-07-26 |
UFS contingent flying national flag at Commonwealth Games |
| 2022-07-26 |
International exchange students back on our campus |
| 2022-07-26 |
International exchange students back on our campus |
| 2022-07-25 |
ASK – A StrangerKind – coming to the UFS |
| 2022-07-25 |
ASK – A StrangerKind – coming to the UFS |
| 2022-07-21 |
USDP candidate creating ear, nose, and throat knowledge relevant to the SA setting |
| 2022-07-21 |
USDP candidate creating ear, nose, and throat knowledge relevant to the SA setting |
| 2022-07-21 |
University Staff Doctoral Programme – exploiting potential |
| 2022-07-21 |
University Staff Doctoral Programme – exploiting potential |
| 2022-07-20 |
Founder of Next Chapter honoured for advocacy work |
| 2022-07-20 |
Founder of Next Chapter honoured for advocacy work |
| 2022-07-20 |
UFS forms partnership with ZZ2, well-known South African farming and fresh produce company |
| 2022-07-20 |
UFS forms partnership with ZZ2, well-known South African farming and fresh produce company |
| 2022-07-20 |
UFS Job Shadows in Germany |
| 2022-07-20 |
UFS Job Shadows in Germany |
| 2022-07-20 |
A collaboration of game changers for women and youth by women |
| 2022-07-20 |
A collaboration of game changers for women and youth by women |
| 2022-07-19 |
Mandela Month: We need collaboration in all sectors to create real social impact |
| 2022-07-19 |
Mandela Month: We need collaboration in all sectors to create real social impact |
| 2022-07-18 |
UFS artists’ work on exhibition at world-famous NIROX Sculpture Park |
| 2022-07-18 |
UFS artists’ work on exhibition at world-famous NIROX Sculpture Park |
| 2022-07-15 |
UFS Lifts its COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy with immediate effect |
| 2022-07-15 |
UFS Lifts its COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy with immediate effect |
| 2022-07-05 |
Winter Warmer Indoor Picnic Concert |
| 2022-07-05 |
Winter Warmer Indoor Picnic Concert |
| 2022-07-11 |
UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor meets Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber |
| 2022-07-11 |
UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor meets Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber |
| 2022-07-11 |
Cyanotic Heart Disease research can help restructure health care, do better planning |
| 2022-07-11 |
Cyanotic Heart Disease research can help restructure health care, do better planning |
| 2022-07-11 |
UFS busy with exciting research into flavours and fragrances |
| 2022-07-11 |
UFS busy with exciting research into flavours and fragrances |
| 2022-05-11 |
More cities may follow Gqeberha in running out of water |
| 2022-05-11 |
More cities may follow Gqeberha in running out of water |
| 2022-07-11 |
‘It takes a good child to be raised by a village,’ says Dr Maramura |
| 2022-07-11 |
‘It takes a good child to be raised by a village,’ says Dr Maramura |
| 2022-07-11 |
Use social media responsibly, advises Deputy Minister John Jeffery |
| 2022-07-11 |
Use social media responsibly, advises Deputy Minister John Jeffery |
| 2022-07-11 |
Gift of the Givers donates food packs to the UFS |
| 2022-07-11 |
Gift of the Givers donates food packs to the UFS |
| 2022-07-08 |
Vrystaat Arts Festival |
| 2022-07-08 |
Vrystaat Arts Festival |
| 2022-07-05 |
From Cathedral Peak to your tap: the role of mountains in providing water |
| 2022-07-05 |
From Cathedral Peak to your tap: the role of mountains in providing water |
| 2022-07-05 |
UFS and police services strengthen partnership for crime prevention |
| 2022-07-05 |
UFS and police services strengthen partnership for crime prevention |
| 2022-07-04 |
Leanne Manas in Conversation with Prof Francis Petersen |
| 2022-07-04 |
Leanne Manas in Conversation with Prof Francis Petersen |
| 2022-07-04 |
The thin line between tradition and christianity as religions |
| 2022-07-04 |
The thin line between tradition and christianity as religions |
| 2022-07-01 |
The University of the Free State Launches an African Languages Press |
| 2022-07-01 |
The University of the Free State Launches an African Languages Press |
| 2022-07-01 |
UFS alumna and Council member honoured by the American Bar Association |
| 2022-07-01 |
UFS alumna and Council member honoured by the American Bar Association |
| 2022-07-01 |
WHO Africa Mission: UFS has facilities for multidisciplinary research |
| 2022-07-01 |
WHO Africa Mission: UFS has facilities for multidisciplinary research |
| 2022-07-01 |
UFS to Prepare Students for Employment |
| 2022-07-01 |
UFS to Prepare Students for Employment |
| 2022-07-01 |
Change makers and game changers: are our glasses half full, or half empty? |
| 2022-07-01 |
Change makers and game changers: are our glasses half full, or half empty? |
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. |