From March 6-10, 2023, Khulisa principal investigators involved in the Measures for Countering Trafficking in Persons in South Africa (MCTIP) study, will meet in Cape Town and Johannesburg with U.S. Embassy and Government of South Africa (GoSA) stakeholders to prepare to launch the MCTIP study. Government departments involved in the study include the South African Departments of Social Development and Health, as well as various U.S. Government agencies working to counter trafficking in South Africa.
Khulisa members involved in the implementation and fostering the success of the study include principal investigator Margaret Roper; stakeholder coordinator Thembi Mahlangu; and researcher Jesse Webb. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of State Justice and Trafficking in Persons division (J/TIP) within the Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS) division (https://www.state.gov/program-to-end-modern-slavery/)
MCTIP aims to reduce the prevalence of trafficking in persons, as measured by the Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum (PRIF) core indicators, and to reduce behavioural vulnerability outcomes among PRIF-identified TIP potential victims and survivors through the implementation of a Randomised Control Trail (RCT) intervention. The intervention will include trauma-informed response planning and referral systems, developing and piloting the implementation of locally-specific Core Standards of Care (CSC), and providing tangible enhancements to mental health and substance abuse treatment and skills development to potential victims of trafficking.
Khulisa and partners are launching the first phase of the MCTIP study, which includes: (i) mapping Johannesburg and Cape Town according to TIP risk marker levels; and (ii) developing localized Core Standards of Care for TIP victims in collaboration with various government and non-government agencies.