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An action plan and a declaration to fight trafficking in human beings across West Africa, was adopted by ECOWAS Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Monday in the Senegalese capital Dakar, the UN Vienna Information Service said on Thursday.
Developed by regional experts and the UN Centre for International Crime Prevention in October, the declaration and action plan commit the West African countries to undertake urgent initiatives in 2002-2003 against trafficking in human beings. The countries were urged to share information among themselves and with the UN, create new special police units to combat the activity, create task forces which will report bi- annually to the ECOWAS Secretariat, as well train customs, immigration, and judicial officers on the matter.
"In West Africa, trafficking in persons is a crime that is growing. Involvement of organised crime has driven this growth and increased the number of citizens who suffer. The crime preys on the most vulnerable - women, children, the poorest and least educated," the UN said.
According to the UN, there exists two main types of trafficking: children who are used mainly for domestic work and farm labour, and women and children used for sexual exploitation mainly outside of the region.
The ministers recommended the adoption of the declaration and action plan by the twenty-fifth ordinary session of ECOWAS heads of state due on 20-21 December in Dakar.
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