Teaming up against child trafficking

Representatives of West and Central African nations, UN agencies and regional non-governmental organisations ended a three-day conference on child labour and trafficking in Yamassoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, on Thursday with a pledge to lead a consolidated effort against the practice.

Organised by the international police organisation, Interpol, and the government of Cote d'Ivoire, the conference addressed several topics, including the current state of trafficking in West and Central Africa, the role of security agencies, and prevention and rehabilitation of victims. It also highlighted positive steps taken and obstacles remaining since the region first identified the problem of illegal child labour and trafficking.

Although it is a long-standing practice, West Africa officially acknowledged the illegal trade in 1998 during a regional workshop held in Cotonou, Benin. Since then, some positive steps have been made although obstacles to combating the scourge still occur.

A protocol between Mali and Cote d'Ivoire in 2000, increased cooperation between countries, and information campaigns organised by countries are some of the positive steps. Obstacles include outdated and inadequate legislation, lack of national crime databases, the fact that security agents often lack training and information, and insufficient money and technical resources, the conference heard.

Participants pledged to hold synchronized information campaigns and implement or upgrade existing legislation on children. In their final declaration, they also said they would train security agents and lawyers to better protect children. The Yamassoukro Declaration further called on governments to work towards a regional agreement against child trafficking and to issue children with special travel documents to allow them to circulate freely. The conference also called on the international community to provide financial and technical assistance.

Participants at the First Specialized Meeting on Child Trafficking and Exploitation in West and Central Africa included Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Mauritania and Senegal. ILO, UNICEF and Save The Children's Fund also attended. Burkina Faso has agreed to host the next meeting, to be held in 2004.