Tue 27 Nov 2007
African Governments Urged to Take Action Against Child Trafficking
The head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has urged the Governments of West and Central Africa to take action to protect children from human trafficking, in an effort to protect the most vulnerable but also to help secure peace in countries recovering from conflict.
How can West Africa build a peaceful and prosperous future if its youth is being exploited, recycled, and scarred for life?” asked Antonio Maria Costa addressing an international meeting on trafficking in children and armed conflict. While human trafficking is a global problem, he noted that West and Central Africa are particularly vulnerable to this crime given the large pool of “lost children” in the two regions, including orphans, child soldiers and those living in poverty and fear. “Children are particularly vulnerable in conflict and post-conflict situations, especially when separated from the rest of their family,” Mr. Costa noted.
Girls are twice as vulnerable: as victims of rape and sexual harassment perpetrated by armed groups, and also because they are seldom involved in programs for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration or provided with special rehabilitation programs. For the full story, click here.
