Youth and gender perspectives on Soccer 2010: risks and opportunities

Date: 22 June, 2010
Venue: Let us Grow, Orange Farm (directions attached)
Time: 10h30 – 15h30

Media and the public are invited to the launch of a series of radio programmes on human trafficking, youth and gender perspectives on Soccer 2010 at Lets Grow, a community project on the outskirts of Johannesburg that provides care and support to people living with HIV and Aids. Media and the public are invited to the launch of a series of radio programmes on human trafficking, youth and gender perspectives on Soccer 2010 at Lets Grow, a community project on the outskirts of Johannesburg that provides care and support to people living with HIV and Aids.

The radio spots have been developed by Gender Links, the Red Light 2010 Campaign with the support of Oxfam GB, CMFD (Community Media for Development) Productions, and the National Community Radio Forum, to raise awareness about recognising, preventing, and reporting human trafficking especially during the World Soccer Cup currently under way in South Africa. Their launch at a youth forum also coincides with Youth Month in South Africa. 16 June marked the 34th anniversary of the Soweto student uprisings against apartheid.

The event is part of the broader Score a Goal for Gender Equality campaign (https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page/soccer-2010) that has 28 targets for the attainment of gender equality by 2015. These include halving gender violence and specific legislation and measures to curb human trafficking.

The half day event on 22 June will include:

• Launch of the radio programmes.
• A panel discussion that will offer the youth who have worked on different issues around soccer 2010 a platform to discuss the opportunities and risks posed by the mega-event.
• Testimonials by youth on the projects that they have worked on
• Presentations by two NGOs that have used soccer 2010 to promote gender equality in South Africa.
• A street soccer match: Little Let us Grow Team, there will be a match between young boys and girls.

Three two-minute spots were produced that address various aspects of human trafficking. Produced in English, Zulu, SeSotho, Afrikaans, and Siswati, they are being distributed to community radio stations in South Africa. Supported by OXFAM GB and the Red Light 2010 Campaign, the spots were also produced into: Portuguese, French, Changaan, Nyanja, Chichewa, Setswana, and Shona and are being distributed to stations across Southern Africa. An accompanying presenter’s guide is designed to encourage discussion with local experts and calls from community members.

In one spot, a young woman’s dream job in the big city becomes a nightmare when she is forced into sex work. In another, a taxi driver realises he did nothing to prevent a young woman from being trafficked, and vows to never let it happen again. In the third, two young women recognise a human trafficker in their midst, thanks to information provided to them through community outreach.

The problem of human trafficking has been raised as a concern leading up to the World Cup, but this devastating human rights violation did not start with this global event, and it will not end there. The Together We can End Human Trafficking radio spots and presenter’s guide are designed to help radio stations join in the fight against human trafficking.

To listen to the spots online, please visit https://www.genderlinks.org.za/ and click on Radio spots: Say No to Human Trafficking.

To visit the GL Soccer 2010 News Service, visit https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page/soccer-2010-newsroom

For more information on the campaign and upcoming event, please contact Saeanna Chingamuka gmdc@genderlinks.org.za

or call her on 011 622 2877/ 082 229 2337.

Download : Directions to The Let us Grow project - Orange Farm Jhb