Victim Assistance

SACTAP has assisted more than 180 trafficked persons from Africa, Asia and Europe, with the majority of these having been identified in South Africa. In doing so, the Programme has established a regional network of service providers able to offer secure accommodation, medical assistance, counselling, legal assistance and skills training to beneficiaries. It is also able to provide its beneficiaries with the option of assisted voluntary return (AVR) to their home countries, and reception and/or reintegration assistance upon arrival.

Upon identification or referral of a trafficked person, IOM conducts an interview to determine the immediate and longer-term needs of each potential beneficiary, the corresponding options available, and eligibility for assistance. If the individual is identified as a victim of trafficking, IOM refers the beneficiary to the SACTAP-established NGO support network and, according to the individual's needs, ensures, for example, access to a secure place of safety, as well as medical assistance and psychosocial counselling for between 3 to 6 months as determined to be necessary. Skills training is also offered to facilitate the trafficked person’s reintegration back into society, and to mitigate against being re-trafficked.

For those beneficiaries returning home from countries to which they were trafficked, IOM works with Departments of Home Affairs, Justice and Foreign Affairs in the countries of origin and destination, and with relevant embassies, to assist in procuring travel documents, if necessary, and in transporting the beneficiary home. SACTAP works with IOM offices in victims’ home countries to monitor and follow-up on the reintegration efforts for its beneficiaries.

SACTAP is currently establishing secure accomodation for trafficked persons in DRC, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Local NGOs will be engaged to manage these places, and will be offered training to do so.

In August 2004, SACTAP established a toll-free counter-trafficking helpline in South Africa, 0800 555 999, manned by operators who have been trained to respond to calls ranging from general enquiries to requests for assistance from trafficked persons.