The Salvation Army estimates that, of the two million people trafficked every year, around 450,000 are out of Africa. What's more, they estimate that there are over 50,000 child prostitutes in South Africa alone. In just under five months, South Africa will become the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup, and, as with any major international event, human trafficking is sure to increase. Many people will sign on for what they think is a legitimate job and then find themselves trapped in labor or sex trafficking operations.

Despite reports from last July 2009 that a human trafficking draft bill was in Parliament and would be voted on "soon," South Africa has no legislation in place to fight trafficking.

The Parliament is still reviewing the bill and we need to ask U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Andrew A. Passen to use their influence to show South African Parliament that it is imperative this bill be passed before the World Cup takes place in June!

*photo by arclients