Region to establish child trafficking legislation in 2004

Regional governments and partner organisations in West Africa agreed on Friday to ratify in 2004 a convention against child trafficking. The agreement was reached at a three-day meeting on cross-border trafficking in Gabon's capital, Libreville. Participants discussed a blueprint of the agreement which highlighted prevention, identification, repatriation and reintegration of child victims into home countries. It also identified existing international laws as precursors to the proposed regional agreement. The blueprint also set a three-phase agenda for the convention. From April to June 2003, countries would hold technical consultations to fine-tune the proposals and in July 2003 ministers would adopt the final draft document. The final phase would be adoption in December 2004, by a summit of heads of state. The Libreville meeting, was called for the "adoption of a subregional convention on child trafficking" but various delegates said they did not have a mandate from their governments to sign a convention, participating ministers told IRIN. Child trafficking is an emerging issue in West Africa but efforts to combat it have been intensified since 1998. The Libreville meeting discussed obstacles that countries face in tackling the problem, including lack of funds, legislation, and insufficient human and technical resources. UNICEF, one of the two UN agencies which organised the meeting, reminded participants to keep the "superior interest" of the child at the centre of all regional efforts against trafficking, while the International Labour Organisation reiterated the importance of adhering to its conventions that protect children and labour.