Child trafficking conference opens

A three-day international conference on child trafficking in West Africa, and strategies to dismantle networks that supply children for labour and other forms of exploitation opened on Tuesday in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire. The meeting's agenda includes the development of child trafficking as a criminal activity, the state of trafficking in West Africa, illegal migration, and the implementation of a September 2000 agreement between Mali and Cote d'Ivoire on fighting the illegal trade. According to the programme of the conference, participants are also scheduled to discuss the role of security agencies in combating the trafficking and exploitation of children, as well as plans for the prevention of the trade and the rehabilitation of victims. The meeting, attended by representatives of UN agencies, Interpol, West African governments and other institutions, is a follow-up to various public awareness initiatives conducted in the region against the exploitation of children.