Searching for best practice: a study on trafficking in persons in west Africa and South Africa

Abstract

High levels of human trafficking remain a serious cause for concern, both globally and in many regions. On the African continent, Southern African countries, specifically South Africa, and countries in West Africa, are susceptible to human trafficking, because of their status as countries of origin, transit and destination. Employing an exploratory and comparative qualitative research design, the purpose of this study is to show why legislation alone is not enough to combat trafficking in persons. By sharing best practice in the regions and acknowledging that the fight against trafficking cannot be seen as an isolated domestic issue, this article advocates for a transnational collaborative approach in combating trafficking. A key finding is that African countries must include and build on the strength of global anti-trafficking initiatives, yet supplement this work within African-driven initiatives, whilst supporting and facilitating the integration of a humanrights perspective into national and regional interventions.