Southern Africa Network Against Trafficking and Abuse of Children

Southern Africa Network Against Trafficking and Abuse of Children is rated 3 out of 5 in the category nonprofit organization management. Read and write reviews about Southern Africa Network Against Trafficking and Abuse of Children. The 15 countries that comprise the SADC region are home to nearly 17 million orphans. The magnitude of the problems of vulnerable children and migrating youth across the region are alarming especially because children’s rights continue to be violated as result of harmful social, cultural and religious practices. Marginalised children that are compelled to work due to household poverty, illness and/or absence of an adult caregiver often cross borders unaccompanied as a survival strategy. When they migrate they are especially vulnerable to abuse, violence and exploitation and other severe violations of children’s human rights due to their age, language barriers and undocumented status in the host country. Many of these children and youth become victims of traffickers who capitalize on the vulnerabilities created by armed conflicts, political instability, climate changes, endemic poverty, minimal access to health and education, gender inequality, unemployment and a general lack of opportunities for most of the population, especially, women and children. The Southern Africa Network against Trafficking and Abuse of Children (SANTAC) was born as an advanced step of the Regional Campaign against Child Abuse launched on 16 June 2002 by regional and national NGO’s from five different SADC countries, under leadership of Mrs. Graça Machel and her husband Nelson Mandela (Madiba). Mission SANTAC mission is to build synergies amongst Southern Africa institutions and individuals to fight against all manifestations of child abuse, in particular child sexual and commercial exploitation, child exploitive labour and trafficking of children for any purpose, through lobby and advocacy, protection, law reform, rehabilitation and care services for victims. Vision SANTAC vision is to create a Southern Africa free of child abuse, exploitation and human trafficking for any purpose.