ANEX (Activists Networking Against the Exploitation of Children)

About ANEX

ANEX (Activists Networking Against the Exploitation of Children) is a registered NPO operating from the Saartjie Baartman Centre in Athlone, Cape Town. The programme director is Claudia Burger, a qualified social worker with experience since 1988. ANEX is dedicated to combating all forms of child exploitation — explicitly including child trafficking, child labour, commercial sexual exploitation, and children used by adults for criminal activity.

ANEX operates primarily through prevention and early intervention — recognising that responding to exploitation after it occurs is always more traumatic and costly than preventing it. Their work includes community education, raising awareness with parents and communities about online grooming and trafficking patterns, and partnering with other organisations for advocacy.

GBV and Trafficking Intersection

The exploitation of children is directly linked to GBV. Many trafficked children come from homes where domestic violence has occurred; many girls exploited commercially are also survivors of sexual abuse. ANEX's focus on commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) places it squarely within the GBV response ecosystem for the most vulnerable child survivors.

Key Programmes

N1 Corridor / Murraysburg Initiative — ANEX's "Put Your Foot Down Against Human Trafficking" campaign specifically targeted children from Beaufort West, Leeu Gamka, and Laingsburg who are trafficked along the N1 route to Cape Town. They have established or supported a safe house in Murraysburg for children in the Central Karoo.

Community Education — Claudia Burger conducts workshops with parents and community members on social media dangers, online grooming, and child trafficking recognition — empowering parents to identify and respond to risk before exploitation occurs.

16 Days Campaigns — ANEX actively participates in the 16 Days of Activism, partnering with Women'sNet, Girl'sNet, 1000 Women's Trust, and Put Your Foot Down.