Trafficking in Children/Child Soldiers

Trafficking is the "...recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons..." by improper means, such as force, abduction, fraud or coercion, for an improper purpose, like forced or coerced labour, servitude, slavery or sexual exploitation. Countries that ratify the Protocol are obliged to enact domestic laws making these activities criminal offences, if such laws are not already in place (Art.3). United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime: Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The websites below provide additional information.

www.hrw.org/campaigns/togo  ww.hrlawgroup.org/initiatives/trafficking_persons
www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/trafficking.htm

The issue of human trafficking is prevelant in Africa as well as Europe. West Africa: Stop Trafficking in Child Labor  Borderline Slavery: Child Trafficking in Togo Uganda: Child Abductions Skyrocket in North  Stolen Children: Abduction and Recruitment in Northern Uganda

It is estimated that some 400,000 people a year enter the European Union (EU) illegally. It is a muti-million dollar business. Sadly, hundreds of persons lose their lives each year attempting to enter the EU.www.news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_797000/797366.stm

Sexual Slavery

Women and girls in depressed economic areas worldwide are recruited through  employment advertisements, mail-order bride catalogues, and casual acquaintances with false promises a better life. Once recruited, they fall victim to sexual abuse, forced labor,
prostitution, and  violence. Traffickers prey on women, girls, and boys from villages and cities in Asia, Africa and Europe and North America. www.undcp.org/trafficking_human_beings.html