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Action to prevent child trafficking in
Africa urged - UN anti-crime chief
Accra, Nov. 28, Ghanadot/GNA - The head of the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has urged
governments of West and Central Africa to take action to
protect children from human trafficking, which not only
harms innocent lives but also efforts to 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 while addressing an
international meeting on trafficking in children and armed
conflict, which began on Monday in the Ivorian city of
Abidjan.
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," a statement issued by the UN
Information Centre in Accra on Wednesday quoted Mr Costa as
saying.
Girls are twice as vulnerable: as victims of rape and sexual
harassment perpetrated by armed groups, and also because
they are seldom involved in programmes for disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration or provided with special
rehabilitation programmes.
Mr Costa urged action to support and rehabilitate girls
victimized by conflict, including redressing injustices
committed against them in times of war.
"We must deepen the knowledge base on the plight of girls in
conflict situations to ensure that prevention and
intervention become more effective."
Given the vulnerability of internally displaced persons and
refugees, Mr. Costa called for extra efforts to ensure that
safe havens do not become recruiting grounds for
traffickers.
"I urge aid agencies to be on the look out for predators,
and host countries to provide sufficient security."
He appealed to all those doing business in Africa to ensure
that their supply chains and employment practices do not
support human trafficking, and urged consumers to use their
purchasing power more forcefully.
"Do you really want to eat chocolate, drive on tires, or
wear diamonds dripping with the blood and sweat of slave
labour?"
He noted that another reason West and Central Africa are
vulnerable to human trafficking is because of the low risks
involved.
"There is little threat of law enforcement, especially in
countries weakened by conflict or corruption," Mr. Costa
said.
"In some countries, anti-trafficking legislation is weak or
non-existent."
The Executive Director called on governments in the two
regions to carry out the UN anti-trafficking Protocol which
includes measures to criminalize human trafficking,
prosecute perpetrators and protect victims.
He also pledged UNODC's assistance to Governments, including
through the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking -
also known as UN.GIFT.
GNA
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