LME3701
Assignment 3
FINAL Research Proposal
Due 11 June 2025
, LME3701
Assignment 3
FINAL Research Proposal
Semester 1 2025 (Historical & Comparative Approach)
DUE 11 June 2025
Table of Contents
1. Introduction (Background and Context) ....................................................................... 2
2. Research Problem ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Research Questions .................................................................................................. 5
4. Research Objectives .................................................................................................. 6
5. Theoretical Framework .............................................................................................. 7
6. Research Methodology .............................................................................................. 8
7. Literature Review ....................................................................................................... 9
South Africa .............................................................................................................. 9
Kenya ....................................................................................................................... 9
Comparative Insights ............................................................................................... 10
8. Significance of the Study .......................................................................................... 11
9. Scope and Limitations ............................................................................................. 12
10. Proposed Structure of the Dissertation .................................................................... 13
11. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 14
, Research Proposal: A Comparative Analysis of Legal Frameworks Addressing
Child Trafficking for Street Begging in South Africa and Kenya: Protecting
Constitutional Rights and Ensuring Effective Prosecution
1. Introduction (Background and Context)
As a researcher at a legal research institute focused on human rights, I’ve been struck
by the growing visibility of adults accompanied by small children begging at traffic lights
in South Africa. This phenomenon raises serious concerns about human trafficking,
particularly the exploitation of children for forced begging, which violates their
fundamental rights and dignity. My work at the institute suggests that such practices
may constitute trafficking under South African law, yet enforcement and victim protection
remain inconsistent. Similarly, in Kenya, urban centers like Nairobi face comparable
challenges with child trafficking for begging, driven by poverty and weak enforcement
mechanisms (Anchan, 2016). Both countries are signatories to international anti-
trafficking frameworks, such as the Palermo Protocol (United Nations, 2000), yet their
domestic responses vary in scope and effectiveness. This research proposal adopts a
comparative approach to examine how South Africa and Kenya’s legal systems protect
the constitutional rights of child victims of trafficking for street begging and prosecute
offenders, aiming to identify best practices and propose reforms to strengthen child
protection.
Rationale: Child trafficking for begging is a hidden yet pervasive form of exploitation that
exploits children’s vulnerability under the guise of familial or cultural practices. By
comparing South Africa and Kenya—two African nations with robust constitutional
frameworks but differing enforcement challenges—this study seeks to contribute to
regional anti-trafficking strategies and enhance victim-centric policies. The focus on
child begging addresses a specific gap in trafficking research, offering practical insights
for policymakers, law enforcement, and child welfare advocates.
Assignment 3
FINAL Research Proposal
Due 11 June 2025
, LME3701
Assignment 3
FINAL Research Proposal
Semester 1 2025 (Historical & Comparative Approach)
DUE 11 June 2025
Table of Contents
1. Introduction (Background and Context) ....................................................................... 2
2. Research Problem ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Research Questions .................................................................................................. 5
4. Research Objectives .................................................................................................. 6
5. Theoretical Framework .............................................................................................. 7
6. Research Methodology .............................................................................................. 8
7. Literature Review ....................................................................................................... 9
South Africa .............................................................................................................. 9
Kenya ....................................................................................................................... 9
Comparative Insights ............................................................................................... 10
8. Significance of the Study .......................................................................................... 11
9. Scope and Limitations ............................................................................................. 12
10. Proposed Structure of the Dissertation .................................................................... 13
11. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 14
, Research Proposal: A Comparative Analysis of Legal Frameworks Addressing
Child Trafficking for Street Begging in South Africa and Kenya: Protecting
Constitutional Rights and Ensuring Effective Prosecution
1. Introduction (Background and Context)
As a researcher at a legal research institute focused on human rights, I’ve been struck
by the growing visibility of adults accompanied by small children begging at traffic lights
in South Africa. This phenomenon raises serious concerns about human trafficking,
particularly the exploitation of children for forced begging, which violates their
fundamental rights and dignity. My work at the institute suggests that such practices
may constitute trafficking under South African law, yet enforcement and victim protection
remain inconsistent. Similarly, in Kenya, urban centers like Nairobi face comparable
challenges with child trafficking for begging, driven by poverty and weak enforcement
mechanisms (Anchan, 2016). Both countries are signatories to international anti-
trafficking frameworks, such as the Palermo Protocol (United Nations, 2000), yet their
domestic responses vary in scope and effectiveness. This research proposal adopts a
comparative approach to examine how South Africa and Kenya’s legal systems protect
the constitutional rights of child victims of trafficking for street begging and prosecute
offenders, aiming to identify best practices and propose reforms to strengthen child
protection.
Rationale: Child trafficking for begging is a hidden yet pervasive form of exploitation that
exploits children’s vulnerability under the guise of familial or cultural practices. By
comparing South Africa and Kenya—two African nations with robust constitutional
frameworks but differing enforcement challenges—this study seeks to contribute to
regional anti-trafficking strategies and enhance victim-centric policies. The focus on
child begging addresses a specific gap in trafficking research, offering practical insights
for policymakers, law enforcement, and child welfare advocates.
