[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 101 (Thursday, July 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1268-E1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING SOUTH AFRICA ON FIRST TWO CONVICTIONS FOR HUMAN 
                              TRAFFICKING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 2010

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to express 
my support for House Resolution 1412, congratulating the Government of 
South Africa upon its first two successful convictions for human 
trafficking. I would like to thank Representative Smith for his efforts 
on this resolution and his dedication to eradicating human trafficking 
throughout the world.
  This summer people all over the world are watching South Africa. The 
country is hosting the 2010 Federation Internationale de Football 
Association (FIFA) World Cup. South Africa is estimated to attract 
nearly 2.7 million local spectators and anywhere between 350,000 and 
500,000 visitors from around the world. South Africa has made huge 
efforts within the last several months to ensure that their country is 
safe, secure, clean, and comfortable for tourists and visitors. A large 
part of that effort to prepare for this event has been a notable 
reduction in, and increased prosecution of, human trafficking. This 
resolution congratulates South Africa on its efforts and the recent 
successful convictions for human trafficking.
  The Department of State reports that, ``South Africa is a source, 
transit, and destination country for trafficked men, women, and 
children . . . . Children are largely trafficked within the country . . 
. to urban centers like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and 
Bloemfontein--girls trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual 
exploitation and domestic servitude; boys trafficked for forced street 
vending, food service, begging, crime, and agriculture . . .'' I am 
very pleased that the South African government, in conjunction with 
other nongovernmental agencies including the Tshwane Counter-
Trafficking Coalition for 2010 and Cape Town Tourism has invested 
resources and energy into preventing human trafficking during the 2010 
FIFA World Cup and I hope that these efforts will continue.
  I want to congratulate the South African Government for its enormous 
stride in addressing human trafficking. I also want to urge the 
government to move quickly to adopt the Prevention and Combating of 
Trafficking in Persons Bill in order to facilitate future prosecutions, 
as well as 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. I truly believe that we can eradicate 
human trafficking and make this world a safer place for all people, and 
urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

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