The World Cup has drawn global attention to South Africa, but the House of Representatives took the occasion to bring some light to the dark world of the trafficking of women and children who can be victimized in large sporting venues.

    Congresswomen Kay Granger (TX-12), and Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking, joined together to bring attention to new efforts in South Africa to combat human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Smith is the prime sponsor of the resolution, which passed this afternoon 414-1.

    “Going on right now, the FIFA World Cup is drawing an estimated 2,700,000 local spectators and 500,000 visitors to the country. It is an honor and an economic boon for South Africa. But it is also a threat to vulnerable women and children—a threat that the Government of South Africa must aggressively combat,” Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and author of three anti-human trafficking laws.  “It is my sincere hope that South Africa will follow-up with prosecution of any soccer fans or other tourists caught exploiting women and children. The buyers of trafficking victims are also responsible for the human misery, for without demand, these women and children would not be slaves.”

    The resolution, H. Res. 1412, praised South Africa for taking proactive steps to fight trafficking, including its first convictions in April connected to two Thai trafficking victims. However, it also noted that South Africa was listed as a Tier 2 country in the U.S. State Department’s 2010 report on trafficking, a designation that says a country that does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to comply, and that the country lacks comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation. The resolution called on the World Cup host to step up law enforcement efforts especially during World Cup play through July 11.

    “I believe that the games are just the beginning for South Africa in its fight against human trafficking,” Smith said. “We have seen tremendous investment of resources and anti-trafficking momentum from non-governmental organizations and faith based organizations in the lead up to the games.”

    Rep. Granger pointed out trafficking concerns in her own state of Texas which will host one of the largest sporting events in the U.S. in 2011.

    “We must continue to work to ensure that we protect the millions of vulnerable people who are enslaved in this vicious cycle,” said Granger. “Light is being shed on these disgusting acts against humanity and justice will be served. With the Dallas-Fort Worth area hosting the Super Bowl in 2011, we should watch the South African government’s action and approach closely. With Texas sitting on the Mexican border we already have serious challenges in combating human trafficking. Major sporting events like the Super Bowl only enhance the crime.”

    In 2000, Smith authored the Trafficking Victims and Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA: PL 106-386), the first federal law specifically enacted to prevent victimization, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking. Smith’s TVPA created real penalties for traffickers and authorized extensive protections for victims of trafficking, authorizing grants to shelters and rehabilitation programs in the United States primarily for foreign victims. Smith’s two subsequent anti-trafficking laws (PL 108-193 and PL 109-164) increased resources primarily for crime prevention, prosecution and expanded treatment assistance for victims—however, domestic minors have yet to receive specialized care services. The law requires the U.S. State Department to issue annual trafficking reports on countries around the world. The newest report was issued June 14. Click here to view 2010 report.

    Just last month, Maloney and Smith introduced the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010, H.R. 5575, a legislative response to the 2009 National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, America’s Prostituted Children, conducted by Shared Hope International through a U.S. Department of Justice grant. The report details domestic child sex trafficking, specifically commercial sexual exploitation of American children within U.S. borders. Experts estimate that at least 100,000 American minors are victimized in America each year. The average age of initial exploitation is between 12-13, with some victims even younger. H.R. 5575 would provide for shelter and specialized care for victims, assist law enforcement and prosecutors to identify and rescue victims and put pimps in prison, promote deterrence and prevention programs aimed at potential buyers, and require timely and accurate reporting of missing children.

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