[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5272-H5275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING SOUTH AFRICA ON FIRST TWO CONVICTIONS FOR HUMAN 
                              TRAFFICKING

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1412) congratulating the Government of South Africa 
upon its first two successful convictions for human trafficking, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1412

       Whereas from June 11, 2010, through July 11, 2010, the 2010 
     Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 
     World Cup will be hosted by South Africa and include games 
     played in stadiums across the country, including Cape Town, 
     Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, Pretoria, 
     Johannesburg, Nelspruit, and Polokwane;
       Whereas the 2010 FIFA World Cup is likely to attract an 
     estimated 2,700,000 local spectators and 350,000 to 500,000 
     visitors to the country;
       Whereas the influx of tourism is likely to lead to an 
     increase in demand for sexual services and create demand for 
     the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children;
       Whereas the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup have 
     resulted in an influx of foreign workers;
       Whereas the hospitality industries may be particularly 
     susceptible to labor trafficking during the 2010 FIFA World 
     Cup;
       Whereas the Government of South Africa has invested in 
     media campaigns and other initiatives to prevent and combat 
     trafficking, such as the Tsireledzani Initiative and the Red 
     Card 2010 Campaign: Disqualifying Human Trafficking in 
     Africa, and has created and trained a human trafficking law 
     enforcement unit which is one important element of the South 
     African Department of Social Development's 2010-2015 
     Strategic Plan;
       Whereas the Government of South Africa has planned to 
     provide shelter and rehabilitative care to victims of human 
     trafficking throughout the country during the World Cup and 
     beyond at Thuthuzela Centres, which exist through the 
     country's domestic violence and anti-rape intervention 
     strategy;
       Whereas the Government of South Africa has ordered schools 
     to be closed during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, raising concerns 
     that children could be left unattended during a period of 
     high trafficking potential;
       Whereas, on June 14, 2010, the United States Department of 
     State released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, 
     asserting that ``South Africa is a source, transit, and 
     destination country for men, women, and children subjected to 
     trafficking in persons, specifically forced labor and forced 
     commercial sexual exploitation. Children are largely 
     trafficked within the country from poor rural areas to urban 
     centers like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and 
     Bloemfontein. Girls are subjected to sex trafficking and 
     involuntary domestic servitude; boys are forced to work in 
     street vending, food service, begging, criminal activities, 
     and agriculture.'';
       Whereas this release marks the 10th anniversary of the 
     Trafficking in Persons Report and no country has yet to build 
     a fully comprehensive response to combating trafficking and 
     protecting survivors;
       Whereas women and girls have reportedly been trafficked 
     into South Africa from as far away as Russia, Thailand, 
     Pakistan, Philippines, India, China, Bulgaria, Romania, 
     Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Burundi, 
     Ethiopia, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, 
     Nigeria, and Somalia;
       Whereas civil society in South Africa, with the support of 
     the South African Government, has invested notable energy and 
     resources into preventing human trafficking at the 2010 FIFA 
     World Cup through Cape Town Tourism, International Union of 
     Superiors General and the Southern African Catholic Bishops' 
     Conference of the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army, the 
     Tshwane Counter-Trafficking Coalition for 2010, and many 
     other nongovernmental and religious organizations; and
       Whereas in April 2010, the Durban Magistrates Court 
     convicted two individuals accused of running a brothel and 
     using Thai women as prostitutes of over a dozen offenses, 
     including money laundering, racketeering, and contravention 
     of the Sexual Offenses and Immigration Acts, thereby marking 
     the first successful convictions for human trafficking in 
     South Africa: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Government of South Africa upon its 
     first two successful convictions for human trafficking;
       (2) recognizes the implementation of several elements of 
     South Africa's anti-trafficking strategy and remains hopeful 
     that full implementation of such anti-trafficking measures 
     will proceed without delay;
       (3) acknowledges the passage in South Africa of the Child 
     Justice Act of 2008 (Act No. 75, 2008) and underscores the 
     importance of rehabilitative care of minors under the age of 
     18;
       (4) recognizes the Government of South Africa's notable 
     efforts to combat trafficking leading up to, during, and 
     following the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football 
     Association (FIFA) World Cup;

[[Page H5273]]

       (5) recognizes the shelters and rehabilitative care 
     provided to human trafficking victims during the World Cup 
     through such centers as the Thuthuzela Centres and encourages 
     further shelter and care programs for victims beyond the 
     event's conclusion;
       (6) calls on the Government of South Africa to move quickly 
     to adopt the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in 
     Persons Bill in order to facilitate future prosecutions;
       (7) calls on the Government of South Africa to increase 
     awareness among all levels of relevant government officials 
     as to their responsibilities under the trafficking provisions 
     of the Sexual Offenses and Children's Acts;
       (8) calls on the Government of South Africa to prioritize 
     anti-trafficking law enforcement during the 2010 FIFA World 
     Cup through expanded law enforcement presence, raids, and 
     other measures in areas where trafficking for labor and 
     sexual exploitation are likely to occur;
       (9) calls on the Government of South Africa to adopt 
     measures to protect vulnerable children, including those 
     children unattended because of school closures and refugee 
     children, as well as other potential victims, from sexual and 
     labor exploitation; and
       (10) urges the Government of South Africa to detain and 
     prosecute tourists participating in commercial sexual 
     exploitation of women and children during the 2010 FIFA World 
     Cup.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I would 
like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for introducing 
this resolution, congratulating South Africa for its first two 
successful convictions of human trafficking. These convictions 
demonstrate South Africa's commitment to protecting the vulnerable 
within its borders.

                              {time}  2000

  While important progress has been made, the resolution also urges the 
government of South Africa to take further steps to prevent human 
trafficking by enacting a more comprehensive anti-human trafficking 
law, pursuing its Child Protection Strategy, prioritizing enforcement 
during the World Cup, educating all relevant government officials about 
the problem, and providing rehabilitative care for those who are freed 
from forced labor in the sex industry.
  In May of 2004, South Africa was awarded the coveted World Cup 
Tournament, which is going on there today. Recognizing the nexus 
between major sporting events and crime, particularly prostitution, the 
South African government placed a high priority on public awareness and 
the anti-trafficking law. As the preparation for the soccer tournament 
got underway, the country's sex industry was simultaneously gearing up 
for the large influx of visitors and the trafficking of women, girls, 
men, and boys into city brothels to meet the expected demand.
  Mr. Speaker, after ridding itself of the hateful apartheid system, 
South Africa has been on a relentless drive to modernize its laws and 
make sure they protect their citizens and punish offenders. In spite of 
the many achievements since throwing off the burden of apartheid, the 
country, like others, is plagued by many ills that confront the rest of 
the world, including human trafficking. Because of daunting economic 
problems throughout Africa and its own endemic rural and urban poverty, 
South African cities are an attractive place for bad characters, 
including human traffickers and drug dealers.
  South Africa must confront both sides of the problem, as it is both a 
source and a destination for trafficking persons. People from 
impoverished areas throughout Africa are brought into the country to 
provide sexual services and all kinds of menial labor for little or no 
pay. Young boys are made to beg on the streets or work on farms while 
young girls are forced into domestic servitude or the illicit sex 
industry. At the same time, traffickers often target South Africans 
themselves, sending them off to Europe or the United States as laborers 
or domestic servants.
  Mr. Speaker, the Government of South Africa has invested in law 
enforcement, community education, and international cooperation to stem 
the tide of trafficked persons. African countries collectively are 
taking the crime of trafficking seriously. Last week, the African Union 
announced that it is establishing an AU Commission initiative against 
trafficking. This new campaign, announced on the Day of the African 
Child, will help ensure that member states are adopting and properly 
implementing international protocols to eliminate trafficking.
  To eradicate human trafficking--to find and free those who are living 
in shackles, to prevent vulnerable and marginalized people from falling 
captive to those who would commodify human life--is a challenge that 
must be shared by all governments. That is why I urge my colleagues to 
support this resolution and join me in recognizing the progress that 
South Africa is making.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the 
ranking member on the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and the 
author of this resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank my good friend, the ranking member, 
for yielding, and thank her for being one of the cosponsors of the 
resolution, along with Carolyn Maloney and Kay Granger and others in 
this body. This is a bipartisan resolution that we present on the floor 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, while the World Cup is a joyous and unifying event 
watched the world over, it comes at a very high cost for many women and 
children trapped in sexual slavery in South Africa. Going on right now, 
the World Cup is drawing an estimated 2.7 million local spectators and 
up to 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 is and must 
continue to aggressively combat.
  Major sporting events, Mr. Speaker, and conventions that attract 
large numbers of people in the United States or abroad have been proven 
to result in an increase in the demand for commercial sexual 
exploitation. Pimps and traffickers jump to respond to the demand by 
trafficking women and girls for prostitution to events such as the 
World Cup.
  We have seen examples of this in stories coming out of South Africa 
in the media over the last several months. One taxi driver covered in a 
story proudly advertised his ``Red Light Tour'' which includes strip 
bar hopping and guidance to prostituted women less likely to be HIV-
positive. He, like so many in the sex industry, is hoping to cash in on 
sexual tourism accompanying the World Cup. Sindiswa was just 17 years 
old, and according to Time magazine, didn't make it to the games. 
Forced into prostitution at 16 after leaving her impoverished village 
on a bogus promise of a job, she died of AIDS complications in January 
of this year.
  Mr. Speaker, according to the U.S. Department of State, where 
prostitution is legalized or tolerated there is a greater demand for 
human trafficking victims and nearly always an increase in the number 
of women and children trafficked into commercial sexual slavery.
  In preparation for the World Cup, the Government of South Africa, to 
its credit, commissioned a comprehensive study of human trafficking 
within its borders and discovered that trafficking victims were brought 
in from all over the world--not just from neighboring countries where 
poverty and porous borders make women and children particularly 
vulnerable to exploitation. Law enforcement in Cape Town, for example, 
where some of the games are played, has been closely monitoring and 
tracking human trafficking. Over the last few months, Cape Town law 
enforcement noted a sudden increase in women arriving with falsified 
immigration documents from Asia, and they

[[Page H5274]]

saw a sudden drop in the age of girls working the streets. I applaud 
Cape Town for its vigilance, as these were signs that criminal 
syndicates with the means and certainly the capacity were trafficking 
women and girls to the World Cup.
  Mr. Speaker, as you may be aware, I offered the Trafficking Victims 
Protection Act of 2000, and its reauthorizations in 2003 and 2005. Our 
most recent TIP report, which is mandated by these laws, ranks South 
Africa as a Tier 2 country--a country that does not fully comply with 
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making 
significant efforts to do so.
  And so on behalf of my colleagues and I, we offer this resolution, H. 
Res. 1412, to congratulate South Africa for the steps it has taken--its 
first two major trafficking convictions and increased law enforcement 
activity, especially--in this all-important fight against human 
trafficking. We offer H. Res. 1412 today to underscore the urgent need 
for further action and trafficking funding prioritization by the 
Government of South Africa. Of course, that admonishment should go to 
each and every one of us, including the United States.
  While South Africa does not yet have in place a comprehensive anti-
trafficking legislation, it does have legislation that offers increased 
protection to children. It is my sincere hope that all levels of 
relevant government officials will be aware of their responsibilities 
under the anti-trafficking provisions of the Sexual Offenses and 
Children's Acts and the Children's Amendment Act of 2007, and that 
these will be fully funded and implemented by the Government of South 
Africa. As we all know as lawmakers, if the law goes unenforced, it is, 
frankly, not worth the paper it is printed on. That goes for any 
parliament's or congress' law. They need to implement this--and do so 
faithfully.

                              {time}  2010

  Mr. Speaker, law enforcement must be particularly vigilant in 
protecting children during the World Cup through an expanded law 
enforcement presence and raids in areas where exploitation is 
occurring. Trafficked women and children rescued during the games must 
be given special rehabilitative care in order to prevent the trauma 
that they have suffered from defining them and condemning them to a 
life of further exploitation and abuse. Aggressive prosecution of the 
traffickers is also a must, as organized crime will always gravitate 
towards whatever activity is most lucrative and least risky.
  Moreover, as this resolution points out, it is our 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 responsible for this human misery, for without 
demand, these women and children would not be slaves.
  I believe that the games are just the beginning for South Africa in 
its fight against human trafficking. We have seen tremendous investment 
of resources, will, and anti-trafficking momentum from nongovernmental 
organizations and faith-based organizations in the lead-up to the 
games. Cape Town Tourism, International Union of Superiors General and 
the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Catholic 
Church, the Salvation Army, Red Card 2010 Campaign, and the Tshwane 
Countertrafficking Coalition for 2010 are just a few of those who have 
stepped up to combat this modern day slavery.
  South African citizens have been widely warned about the dangers of 
human trafficking, and many have volunteered in the fight. Human 
trafficking is in the public eye now, and it is time for the Government 
of South Africa to purge it from its cities and anywhere else that it 
is found. I thank my good friend for yielding and urge Members to 
support the resolution.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I thank the gentleman from New Jersey, and we are blessed to have 
such a human rights activist on our committee and, indeed, in the 
entire House of Representatives. Thank you so much, Mr. Smith.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill before us, House Resolution 1412, recognizes 
the efforts to date of the South African Government to fight human 
trafficking while urging sustained and expanded efforts for the future. 
According to the State Department's 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report: 
``South Africa is a source, transit and destination country for men, 
women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically 
forced labor and forced commercial sexual exploitation.'' Further, 
South Africa ``does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the 
elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts 
to do so.''
  As the 2010 Trafficking Report recognizes and this resolution 
reaffirms, South Africa has, in fact, made notable progress in 
confronting human trafficking. The recent conviction by the Durban 
Municipal Court of two individuals on trafficking-related charges is 
particularly significant and merits recognition. Still, we have a long 
way to go, Mr. Speaker. Concerns over trafficking in South Africa have 
been heightened with the commencement of the FIFA 2010 World Cup games 
which are being held at newly erected stadiums throughout the country. 
The massive influx of workers to build these stadiums and other 
infrastructure, high rates of domestic unemployment, the arrival of 
millions of spectators and gaps in law enforcement capacity have 
provided an ideal operating environment for traffickers.
  Criminal networks and street gangs are already known to operate child 
prostitution rings in the country's major cities where child sex 
tourism is on the rise. These same cities, including Durban, Cape Town 
and Johannesburg now boast major soccer stadiums capable of drawing 
between 40,000 to 95,000 spectators each. The confluence of criminality 
and opportunity created by the World Cup has presented major challenges 
for the South African Government. Unfortunately, these challenges will 
endure long after the cup has been awarded.
  This resolution urges the South African Government to engage in an 
aggressive, sustained, and effective campaign to fight the scourge of 
trafficking. It urges the government to adopt the pending Prevention 
and Combating of Trafficking in Persons bill and enforce relevant 
elements of the Sexual Offenses and Child Justice Acts. It urges the 
government to adopt additional measures to protect vulnerable children 
and other potential victims from sexual and labor exploitation. It 
urges the government to prioritize anti-trafficking law enforcement, 
particularly during the World Cup games. And, lastly, it encourages the 
government to prosecute tourists engaging in commercial sexual 
exploitation. I strongly urge our colleagues to support this timely and 
important resolution.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the ranking 
member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation and Trade.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. I 
would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Chris Smith, for 
all that he has attempted to do to bring this resolution before us and 
also for bringing this issue into the international community. And 
Congresswoman Diane Watson, we appreciate your leadership on this as 
well.
  I think for any of us who try to contemplate the impact of modern-day 
slavery--I was thinking, I was just talking to Congressman Smith about 
the movie ``Amazing Grace'' about William Wilberforce and the attempt 
in Britain so long ago to try to eliminate the slave trade. And when we 
think about the fact that in this century this type of slavery still 
exists, I think that when we consider the magnitude of it, the misery 
of the people, especially the children that are subjected to this, we 
think about this range of sexual servitude across this planet affecting 
some 12 million adults but also millions of children.
  And this is what is happening every day. People are trafficked into 
this type of servitude. You think about the fact that many of these 
children are 6, 7 years old. And, sadly, as the State Department tells 
us in this report that was just released, the majority of transnational 
trafficking, the majority of these victims are being trafficked into 
commercial sexual exploitation. So that is the reality that the world 
faces today.

[[Page H5275]]

  Now, importantly, this resolution commends the Government of South 
Africa for taking some steps because it has tried to combat this 
problem. It has brought to justice, it has successfully convicted its 
human traffickers here in a trial that has gotten some attention. So it 
is important to note such improvements.
  But at the same time, it's important for us to realize how much 
remains to be done, how much the international community needs to work 
and come together to go after these criminal syndicates that are 
involved in this kind of activity.
  And I only wish we could be celebrating the achievement of countries 
like Vietnam; but, unfortunately, we've read the report. Some countries 
are actually being downgraded in this report. In Vietnam, women and 
children are routinely misled by fraudulent job opportunities where 
they find themselves, instead, sold into brothels. Sadly, while some 
conditions are improving, other states, like Vietnam, are falling far, 
far behind.
  And it is also our hope that the release of this report will do much 
in the international community, along with the help by NGOs that have 
come forward, in order to try to put a spotlight on this issue, in 
order to try to get every government involved and moving in the correct 
direction and prosecuting those who are involved in the criminal 
syndicates for trying to advance this kind of inhumanity across this 
planet.

                              {time}  2020

  I again commend all of the cosponsors of this legislation, including 
my colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Royce and 
thank Mr. Smith, the author of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1412, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________