Trafficking in children : effective solutions for African countries.

Abstract

Trafficking in persons in general and in children in particular is a phenomenon that affects each and every country in the world. No African country is immune from trafficking, the quasi-totality of them are simultaneously countries of origin, transit and destination of trafficked children. They are trafficked internally or trans-nationally for all types of exploitations, such as sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, and removal of body parts. In spite ofjoint efforts by the international community to eradicate trafficking in children, research reveals that this modem form of slavery is a phenomenon on the rise instead of decreasing. The situation is more alarming on the African continent where most countries have not yet found appropriate solutions to the problem. Child trafficking is fought through prevention and criminalization. The former entails measures such as awareness raising and the alleviation of factors that make children vulnerable to trafficking and the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of children. Criminalization measures tress the enactment of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, investigation and prosecution of traffickers and protection of child victims of trafficking. This dissertation evaluates the best solutions to prevent and eradicate child trafficking. It seeks to recommend practices which are effective for African countries by taking into consideration the continent's realities, such as resource limitations and underdevelopment.